Cebu City is gearing up for one of its most significant religious events, with authorities deploying a massive security force to ensure the safety of thousands of Catholic devotees. The Walk with Mary procession, a key activity of the 460th Fiesta Señor, is scheduled for the morning of Thursday, January 15, 2026.
Large-Scale Security Mobilization
The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has prepared a comprehensive security plan involving over 1,000 police personnel from its own ranks. This force will be strategically stationed along the procession route from the Fuente Osmeña Rotunda to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño. Police Lieutenant Colonel Jose Losbaños, the CCPO information officer, confirmed the deployment.
This police presence is just the core of the operation. It will be significantly bolstered by personnel from other government agencies, including the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Army, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the Cebu City Transportation Office. Additionally, force multipliers like barangay tanods (village watchmen) will assist in crowd management.
Regional Reinforcements Arrive
To handle the anticipated large crowd, the police operation is receiving substantial support from neighboring regions. The Negros Island Region is contributing 200 personnel, while the Police Regional Office-Eastern Visayas is sending 301 personnel to Cebu. These reinforcements will be deployed not only for the Walk with Mary but also for the subsequent Traslacion procession later in the morning, which follows a holy mass at the Basilica and proceeds to the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City.
Learning from Past Crowd Concerns
A primary focus of the police preparations is managing the massive influx of devotees and preventing dangerous situations like stampedes. Authorities are applying lessons learned from a recent event, the Walk with Jesus, where congestion occurred near the Abellana National High School area due to the nearby BRT station.
"Our preparations are to make sure we can properly control the crowd, just like what happened during the Walk with Jesus, which got a bit congested during the parade," stated Lt. Col. Losbaños. The police aim to ensure such bottlenecks do not repeat themselves during the Walk with Mary.
With the Sinulog Festival drawing closer, officials anticipate that the number of participants for the Walk with Mary could double compared to the Walk with Jesus. This expectation has made them extra cautious in their planning and deployment. Their ultimate goal is to provide a safe and orderly environment for this profound expression of faith as Cebu celebrates its patron, the Santo Niño.
