Mayor: Close Gen. Maxilom Ave. 2 days before Sinulog parade

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he wants to close Gen. Maxilom Avenue to traffic two days before the Sunday grand parade of the Sinulog in January 2014.

Closing the road on Friday would allow more time for clearing it of obstructions that would hamper the street dancing of performers.

Rama said he also wants to remove the gutter from the center island in front of Robinsons Mall near Fuente Osmena.

No more Sinulog decor will be allowed there as an obstruction, he said.

Exit points should also be identified at the P. del Rosario Street where spectators usually crowd, he said.

These are priorities Rama asked members of the newly created Sinulog executive committee to focus on during monthly meetings in the runup to January 2014.

He asked them to focus on clearing the Sinulog parade route and crowd control.

Concrete barriers in the middle of General Maxilom Avenue will be replaced with plastic barriers that could be easily removed during the parade so people can walk freely during Saturday’s solemn procession of the Sto. Niño and Sunday’s grand parade.

New members

The mayor introduced new members in the Sinulog Board of Directors yesterday.

Ricky Dakay is the new treasurer with Orly Dychanco as secretary.

The Sinulog execom has five to seven members.

It includes Councilor Hans Abella and a representative of the mayor.

“I won’t sign anything that has not passed through Ricky Dakay,” said Rama who is the overall chairman of the Sinulog celebration.

He said this protocol would safeguard the foundation’s funds and prevent a repeat of the post-parade theft of about P1.6 million in cash and valuables taken from the vault of the Sinulog office.

The money has not been recovered and has been recorded in the foundation’s books as a loss, said Sinulog executive director Ricky Ballesteros in an earlier interview.

Mayor Rama said he looked forward to working with the board of directors and executive committee.