Cebu City in final stretch of Sinulog preparations

Local

WITH millions of visitors expected, Cebu City is enforcing major traffic restrictions, releasing festival funds, and tightening vendor regulations as Sinulog 2026 preparations hit their final stretch ahead of the January 18 celebration.

Traffic management remains one of the city’s top priorities as officials brace for peak-day congestion.

To ease traffic during the festival’s busiest hours, Councilor Dave Tumulak said on Monday that Cebu Governor Pam Baricuatro has approved the temporary closure of the South Bus Terminal on Jan. 18.

Tumulak clarified that southbound buses will no longer enter the city proper on Sinulog Day and will instead drop off passengers at Plaza Independencia via the South Road Properties (SRP), with regular fares still in effect.

Northbound buses will likewise be rerouted to the SRP.

To support the rerouting scheme, around 40 buses will be deployed to assist commuters, using major highways to bypass the city center and reduce traffic pressure along Sinulog routes.

Alongside traffic preparations, the city is also moving to fast-track financial support for participating contingents.

Mayor Nestor Archival said during a press conference on Monday, January 5, that financial assistance for Sinulog contingents may be released as early as Tuesday.

Under the approved allocation, Cebu City–based contingents will receive ₱1 million each, while out-of-town or provincial contingents will get ₱1.5 million each to support their participation in the Sinulog Grand Parade.

City officials said the early release of funds is intended to help contingents finalize costumes, props, and logistical needs as rehearsals intensify in the days leading up to the festival.

Beyond funding and traffic, city officials are also tightening control over festival-related commerce.

Archival announced that Cebu City will strictly regulate vendors for Sinulog 2026, warning that unregistered sellers will not be allowed to operate.

Vendor registration will begin Tuesday, with a special committee tasked to oversee vendor management.

Registration will be done alphabetically to prevent overcrowding and disorder.

Vendors will be allowed to sell only in designated areas, must pay the required fees either to their barangay or City Hall, and are required to carry official vendor identification cards at all times.

The mayor stressed that roaming vendors and selling near prayer areas will be strictly prohibited.

“We will not tolerate vendors who do not follow the rules. This is about order, safety, and respect for the religious nature of Sinulog,” Archival said.

These measures come as the city shifts to heightened operational readiness.

Cebu City has officially been placed under blue alert as preparations for Sinulog Festival 2026 reached the 70 percent mark, signaling full mobilization of personnel ahead of the country’s biggest religious and cultural festival.

Tumulak, who sits on the executive committee of the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI), said organizers are now in the final phase of preparations.

“Sa pagkakaron naa na ta sa 70 percent sa tanang preparation sa Sinulog this January 18, 2026. Halos nakompleto na ang preparation, ang D-day na lang ang paabuton,” he said.

He said the remaining work focuses on technical and

operational concerns.

The remaining 30 percent, Tumulak explained, consists largely of details critical to crowd control, staging, and public convenience.

These include performance technicalities, site planning, and the rollout of public amenities in key activity hubs such as Plaza Independencia and Fuente Osmeña.

“The 30 percent remaining is the technical aspect na lang. Sa Plaza Independencia ug sa Fuente, naa man ta’y activities. Ug padayon pa karon ang pag-screen kung kinsa nga mga artists ug asa sila ibutang,” he said.

Artist deployment, he added, will be crowd-sensitive.

Entertainers and performers will be strategically assigned based on crowd profile to prevent bottlenecks and traffic disruptions.

“For example, usa ka entertainer nga haom sa mga batan-on, ato silang ibutang sa lugar nga haom nila aron dili makabuhat ug traffic,” Tumulak said.

Public comfort facilities are also being addressed.

The City Council has passed a resolution urging private establishments along Sinulog routes to allow public use of their restrooms for a minimal fee of five to 10 pesos to prevent public urination.

With blue alert now in effect, government agencies, emergency responders, and security forces have been placed on heightened readiness.

“Blue alert na ang Cebu. Pagpangandam na gyud para sa Sinulog 2026,” Tumulak said.

Security personnel will be formally sent off on January 5 at 6 a.m. at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC), while the opening salvo—marking the formal start of Sinulog festivities—is scheduled for January 7.

On Sinulog Day itself, organizers have laid out a tightly managed program.

The Holy Mass will be held from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., followed by the official opening of Sinulog at 9:15 a.m. The parade and street dancing competitions will then commence, with Sector 1 located at the CCSC.

Tumulak confirmed that 40 contingents, including three guest performers, will take part in this year’s festivities.

Competition flow will again be tightly controlled.

Judging stations for street dancing competitions will be placed along the parade route but will not be publicly announced to prevent crowd buildup.

“Sa street dancing, naa gihapon tay judging stations pero dili i-announce. Ang mga daplin sa dalan butangan ug bleachers,” Tumulak said.

Judges and technical staff are already preparing the scoring points, which will form a key component of the street dancing results.

The same approach applies to the float competition.

Pre-judging will still be conducted, although final technical assessments will take place on the actual parade day.

“Naa gihapon pre-judging. Pero naa gihapon on the day kay didto ipagawas ang technical mechanism sa floats,” he said.

Organizers also confirmed that Sinulog 2026 will proceed without a signal shutdown following coordination between the city government and SFI, ensuring uninterrupted communication for the public, emergency responders, contingents, and the media.

Stricter competition rules will likewise be enforced, including a ban on illuminated props and lighting effects, as well as possible disqualification of contingents that arrive late at designated pre-positioning areas.(TGP)