Cebu City Allows 51st IEC Participants To Stay At ‘Devotee City’

The Cebu City government has allowed participants of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) to stay at the “Devotee City” which was established for the recent Sinulog festivities.

Acting Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said the Devotee City on the vacant lot of Compana Maritima across the Cebu City Hall, which can accommodate some 3,000 individuals, will remain open until Jan. 31, the end of the international religious event which began on Sunday.

The Devotee City opened on Jan. 15 to house Sto. Nino devotees from far-flung areas who have no place to stay in the city.

Labella said shipping firm 2GO Travel has granted the city’s request to extend the use of the 120 cargo containers until Jan. 31.

He said these can be used as living quarters for those who want to participate in the IEC activities, such as the opening Mass, the procession, parish visits and the closing Mass.

The city government sets up the Devotee City every year to house Sto. Niño devotees who come to Cebu for the Sinulog celebration.

The facility was supposed to operate only until last Monday, a day after this year’s Sinulog grand parade.

Labella said those who can be accommodated in Devotee City for the IEC are families or individuals who reside beyond Danao City in northern Cebu and Carcar City in southern Cebu.

Those who come from other provinces in the neighboring regions are also welcome to stay at the facility on a “first-come, first-served” basis. (PNA) SCS/EB/PJN