Politicians told to 'behave' during Sinulog Festival in Cebu

By Rachelle M. Nessia

CEBU CITY, Jan 9 (PIA) -- With the 2013 midterm elections a few months away, organizers of the Sinulog 2013 Festival warned politicians to “behave” during the Sinulog festivities. 

The Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) have received calls from several politicians, especially from the national level, requesting to be invited during the celebration. 

“This is understandable since it’s now election season,” said SFI Executive Director Ricky Ballesteros during a Kapihan forum held by the Philippine Information Agency here. 

SFI has come up with guidelines for politicians to strictly follow if they attend the celebration. 

“They are prohibited from distributing campaign materials during the activities,” said Ballesteros. 

Putting up of streamers with politicians’ faces printed on them are also banned. 

“We make sure to remind them of the do’s and don’ts. If they violate the rules, they will be dealt with accordingly. They should follow the rules as model politicians,” he added. 

Requests from politicians asking to be invited, said Ballesteros, are referred to the office of Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama. 

Some government officials from other provinces also send their staff to Cebu to observe how the SFI organizes the annual festival. 

The Sinulog Festival in Cebu is one of the biggest crowd-drawing events in the country. 

Reports indicate that hotels in the city are bracing for the influx of foreign and local tourists as the Department of Tourism in the region have earlier announced they are expecting an increase in tourist arrivals this month. 

DOT-7 Regional Director Rowena Montecillo pegs the current hotel occupancy in the city at already 90%. (RMN/PIA-7 Cebu)