Over 1,000 security personnel will secure the “Sinulog sa Lalawigan” street dancing route and grand showdown at Cebu City Sports Center, a police official said on Saturday.

Col. Percival Zorilla, chief of the Cebu provincial police, assured the safety of the Sto. Niño devotees who will witness the parade on Jan. 14.

“For the security personnel, we will be deploying 1,110 security personnel from the PNP (Philippine National Police), AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), Coast Guard and force multipliers along the 1.85-kilometer street dancing route, including the deployment of security units inside the (Cebu City) Sports Center,” Zorilla said in a statement.

A command center will be set up in front of the Cebu capitol and would be aided by 18 K-9 dogs.

Eighteen contingents from Cebu province, including the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu, will grace the street dancing competition and the grand showdown.

The Cebu City Traffic Office will implement alternative detours for private and public utility vehicles, as the area will be closed from traffic to give way to the Sinulog event.

Contingents from Madridejos in Bantayan Island and Poro and Tudela in Camotes Islands will transport their dancers to mainland Cebu via Coast Guard and Navy vessels. (PNA)