Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama insisted that the upcoming Sinulog Festival will be held at the South Road Properties despite the call of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan, Talisay City Mayor Gerard Anthony Gullas, and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines- Cebu Chapter to return the Sinulog Grand Parade and Grand Ritual Showdown to the Cebu City Sports Complex.

In a virtual press conference from Australia, Rama said " As I would like to repeat, my stance has not changed. SRP, we had it last time there, we should have it there again…In God we trust."

He denied claims that the City was not prepared.

Rama said those willing to extend help should avoid imposing conditions.

"Those who want to help, just help, help and help without attaching any conditions, because if we offer help, we should offer it in faith to Senor Sto. Nino," he stressed.

Governor Garcia in a meeting with Sinulog Foundation Inc. executive director Elmer Labella expressed the Provincial Government's willingness to support next year's Sinulog and donate P20 million, but only if the ritual showdown will be held at the CCSC to " bring back the soul of Sinulog."

Acting Cebu City Mayor Raymund Alvin Garcia said the city still needs to conduct a comparative study to determine which location would be more favorable for the contingents and the general public. He said both CCSC and SRP are viable options.

But he favors the CCSC, considering it is 60 percent near completion, while the City still has to spend "a few hundred million" to asphalt the SRP venue.

The utmost considerations are the safety of performers and spectators, and cost-effectiveness.

North District City Councilor Jerry Guardo, infrastructure committee chairman admitted that bringing the Sinulog back to the CCSC faces major challenges, especially with the ongoing construction of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit project.

The CCSC is now being renovated for the 2024 Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association and the Palarong Pambansa.

The Sinulog Grand Parade and Grand Ritual Showdown are scheduled for 21 January 2024.

Carcar City Mayor Patrick Barcenas and Toledo City Mayor Marjorie Perales, LMP-Cebu Chapter president and Daanbantayan Mayor Sun Shimura, Dumanjug Mayor Gungun Gica,Carmen Mayor Carlo Villamor,San Francisco Mayor Alfredo Arquillano,Poro Mayor Edgar Rama, Alcantara Mayor Fritz Lastimosa, Bantayan Mayor Art Despi, Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado, Liloan Mayor Aljew Frasco, San Fernando Mayor Mytha Canoy and Sogod Mayor Moonyeen Durano-Streegan voiced support for the holding of next month's Sinulog festivities at the CCSC over the SRP.