IEC delegates advised to bring jackets, umbrellas due to expected rain

Catholic priests and fatihfuls during a mass at the 2nd day of the International Eucharistic Congress at the IEC Pavillion in Cebu City, where around 12,000 participants gathered to promote centrality of the Eucharist in Christian life.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / MAERIANNE BERMUDEZ

CEBU CITY—Don’t forget your jackets and umbrellas.
Such was the advice of weather specialist at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) to delegates to the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) who would be joining the Parish Encounter on Wednesday night.

READ: International Eucharistic Congress kicks off in Cebu

Alice Canasa, Pagasa weather specialist 2, said light to moderate rain would be expected in Metro Cebu areas, including Cebu and Mandaue cities in the entire day.
Temperature was recorded at 25 degrees Celsius at 11 a.m. and would be colder later in the late afternoon toward the evening due to the “amihan” (northeast monsoon).
At least 4,000 delegates were expected to join the Parish Encounter that would start at 4 p.m. They would be relegated to 14 parishes in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue for dinner and cultural shows.
Ten churches are located in Cebu City.
These are the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, the Archdiocesan Shrines of San Roque in Barangay (village) Mambaling, Our Lady of Lourdes in Barangay Punta Princesa, St. Therese of the Child Jesus in Barangay Lahug, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Barangay Guadalupe and Sacred Heart of Jesus on D. Jakosalem Street; and the parishes of St. Joseph in Barangay Mabolo, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart on Escario Street, the Redemptorist Church on Queen’s Road, and Sto. Rosario on P. Del Rosario Street.
The four in Mandaue City are the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Barangay Poblacion, San Roque Parish in Barangay Subangdaku, Holy Family Parish in Barangay Maguikay and Gethsemane Parish in Barangay Casuntingan.
Cebu City Traffic Office (CCTO) head Rafael Yap advised motorists to avoid roads near the said 14 churches because of the expected traffic in these areas.

READ: Heavy traffic in Cebu City due to IEC road closures

Yap said buses ferrying the delegates to the parishes would be given priority so they would not be late in the Parish Encounter.
Starting 2 p.m. on, the CCTO would start removal of road obstructions including illegally parked vehicles “that would make the entry of buses difficult.” RAM