A convergence of international diplomacy and local celebration is set to test the city’s coordination systems next week, as officials prepare to host ASEAN-related movements alongside the annual city fiesta.
City Administrator Atty. Gonzalo “Sally” Malig-on said preparations are already in place to manage overlapping activities scheduled around May 7 and 8, which fall at the peak of the fiesta celebration and coincide with the movement of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) delegates.
Malig-on said Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano and the city administration are ready for the twin events, noting that this marks the first fiesta under the current leadership.
“Medyo busy gyud ang tanang importante kaayo nga departments sa City Hall kay nagdungan man gud,” Malig-on said, referring to the simultaneous preparations.
Fiesta activities opened on May 1 with a Holy Mass, followed by a VisPop concert at the city plaza, setting the tone for a week of civic and cultural events.
Malig-on said systems are already in place for crowd control, traffic adjustments, and public safety coordination, while also expressing hope for favorable weather conditions throughout the festivities.
“We ask everyone nga mo-join sa mga activities, enjoy lang and dili lang magkalat,” he said, urging residents to observe order and discipline during the celebrations.
He confirmed that temporary traffic rerouting and road closures will be implemented on May 7 and 8 during the passage of ASEAN delegates, but stressed these will be limited to specific time windows rather than full-day restrictions.
Additional traffic measures will also be enforced during a scheduled concert in Barangay Subangdaku on May 7, where artists KZ Tandingan and TJ Monterde are expected to draw large crowds.
Malig-on acknowledged that manpower deployment remains a key challenge, with multiple departments—including police, disaster response teams, general services, and barangay security units—set to operate simultaneously across different sites.
“That’s the challenge,” he said, citing the scale of overlapping public activities.
Despite the strain on resources, Malig-on emphasized that ASEAN-related security and logistics take top priority given the presence of visiting heads of state.
“Kinahanglan nato i-secure. So that’s the big challenge,” he added.
Photo courtesy of Mandaue City Public Affairs Office
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