Street Dwellers Are Part Of IEC

Street dwellers and the urban poor will partake in the activities of the 51stInternational Eucharistic Congress (IEC) this January 24-31.

At least one thousand of them will take part in the salo-salo, which will be held on the eve of the IEC on January 23. It will take place at the Pope John Seminary gym at 8am to 12nn after the celebration of a holy mass.

Fr. Joseph Larida of IEC security committee, Archdiocese of Cebu, said that a solidarity committee was formed to oversee the sector’s involvement.

The street children and their foster parents will also be part of the first communion activity during the occasion.

Larida said the committee has mobilized personnel to prepare the street children for the first communion. The committee has identified at least 51 poorest of the poor families from selected parishes in the city to take part in the IEC.

As of this posting, the IEC secretariat has recorded around eight thousand registered delegates.

On January 24, the IEC will officially kick off with an opening mass at the Plaza Independencia. The Cebu City Transporation Office announced on Facebook certain road closures, namely; MJ Cuenco Avenue.- from MC Briones St., to Legaspi Extension, and Osmeña Boulevard.- from Lapulapu St., up to MJ Cuenco Ave. Certain sections in MC Briones St.- from Lapulapu St. up to MJ Cuenco Ave. will be closed.

In Legaspi Extn. – the stretch from MJ Cuenco Ave. up to Arellano Blvd. will also be closed. The sections from R. Palma St. up to Legaspi Extn. are will be no entry for motorists during the occasion.

Trucks, vans, and trailers are banned to enter the South Road Properties (SRP) underpass/South Coastal Road at 2pm until the end of the IEC event at the Plaza Independencia.

The SRP tunnel and the south coastal road is, however, open to light vehicles. They may take MJ Cuenco, Imus New Road, and N. Bacalso corridors.

For the downtown area, the Osmeña Blvd., Zulueta, and Jakosalem Sts. are open.

From January 25-29, the Pope John Paul Avenue (formerly Juan Luna Ave.)- from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to Cardinal Rosales Ave. is restricted for all types of vehicles from 5am to 9am and 2pm to 7pm.

The alternative route for Lahug to Mabolo area and vice versa is Gorordo Avenue to Mindanao Avenue of Cebu Business Park or Gen. Maxilom Avenue.

From North to South, the Archbishop Reyes flyover, M.J. Cuenco, and the S. Osmena Avenue are available.

For the Visita Iglesia (Sector 1 & 2) on January 28, the sector 1 will start at Capitol Parish passing along N. Escario St., right turn Gorordo Ave., to Asilo dela Milagrosa Church, proceed to F. Sotto St., right turn Queens Road, then to Redemptorist Church, traverse along R. Aboitiz St., right turn Juana Osmeña St., right turn N. Escario St., to Capitol Parish Church.

Sector 2 is at Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, passing along P. Burgos St., to Basilica del Sto. Niño, then proceed to D. Jakosalem St., left turn Legaspi St., to Pelaez St., then to Sto. Rosario Parish, follow P. del Rosario St., left turn D. Jakosalem St., then to Sacred Heart Church, traverse back along D. Jakosalem St., straight to Downtown Area, left turn P. Gomez St., right turn P. Burgos St., then to Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

The designated alternative road is the SRP Tunnel and the South Coastal Road is open. The M.J. Cuenco, Imus New Road and N. Bacalso Avenue are available.

For the Holy Eucharist Celebration at the Capitol on January 29, the road closure in Escario from 1 a.m. onwards will start from the intersection of Ramos Extn. to Don Gil Garcia St. and from Escario to Don Jose Avila St. in Osmeña Blvd.

However, the traffic committee is considering adjusting the road closure depending on the actual need.

The alternative routes are V. Rama, B. Rodriguez or N. Bacalso Ave. The SRP Tunnel and the South Coastal Road is open for light vehicles only. The roads in Gorordo, Gen. Maxilom Ave, B. Rodriguez, M.J. Cuenco, Imus New Road to N. Bacalso are also open.

During the mass and Sinulog Presentation at the Cebu City Sports Center on January 30, the roads within the surrounding area of the sports center are off limits to vehicular traffic.

These are P. del Rosario St. – from Pelaez St. up to Leon Kilat St.; Osmeña Blvd. – from Sanciangko St. up to Arlington Pond St.; and R.R. Landon St. – from Pelaez St. up to the Sports Center

There will be no road closures during Statio Orbis on January 31. However, a selective entry to SRP and the passage along south coastal road will be implemented. Again, trucks, vans and trailers are not allowed to enter SRP starting 12 noon until the end of the event to lessen the traffic volume in the area.

By Xerxes Alkuino