The city government of Cebu is confident of finishing the works at the new venue of the Sinulog Grand Parade ahead of schedule, the mayor here said on Tuesday.

This, despite advice from different officials, including Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who said that this year’s Fiesta Señor may not be the right time to change the venue from the one used in the previous celebrations.

Mayor Michael Rama said they are determined to hold the festival at the new business district in the South Road Properties (SRP), which is a departure from the usual venue in the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) located in the midtown district.

He said works for the viewing area, stage, contingents’ waiting area, command center, and grandstand for the spectators of the carousel route of the Sinulog dancers will be ready before the weekend.

Of the major events, only the grand parade will be held in the SRP, which is now considered as the new commercial district of this city, as the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) decided to still hold other activities at the CCSC.

On Friday, the Sinulog Festival Queen will be held at the sports center while the post-Sinulog activities like the awarding ceremony for the Sinulog 2023 dance competition will also be held on Monday at the usual venue.

The Sinulog sa Kabataan last Sunday and the ritual showdown performance of the winners were also held at the sports center.

Councilor Jerry Guardo, head of the City Council’s committee on infrastructure that oversees the physical works for the preparations at the SRP, said they target to finish the asphalting of the pavement around the grandstand by Wednesday.

The construction firm, Dakay Construction, tasked to build the big stage for the event, finished putting up the concrete slabs on Tuesday.

The city government, Guardo said, is checking on the progress of the ongoing asphalting of the pavement at the diversion road at the back portion of SM Seaside Mall proceeding towards the grandstand where the Sinulog presentation will be held.

“Our team from DEPW (Department of Engineering and Public Works) is working double time even on the weekend to complete the road concreting project to make sure the road proceeding to the grandstand will not be muddy,” he added.

Officials and SFI executives inspected Tuesday the ongoing construction of the grand parade and ritual showdown of Sinulog dance performers on Sunday.

In a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Garcia said officials of Cebu City should have asked “the position of the Province of Cebu” regarding the change of venue for this year’s Sinulog grand parade.

Prior to the pandemic, Garcia would lead a contingent from the province in an annual offering of Sinulog dance.

“It would be nice that the decision where the venue should be would also reflect the positions of the Province of Cebu as well as the other cities aside from Cebu City, because of One Cebu Island (concept),” she said.

Garcia said this year, the province has an “active participation not just in terms of contingents but also helping the City of Cebu in terms of financial support and we have encouraged local government units to join the Sinulog”.

The province will send at least eight Sinulog contingents this year. (PNA)