DAVAO CITY—From what used to be two separate days, this year’s 39th Kadayawan Festival in Davao City will have the major festival events; Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan (Street Dancing Competition) and Pamulak sa Kadayawan (Floral Float Parade) combined into a one-day street parade.
According to City Tourism Operations Office OIC Jennifer Ricardo Romero, one major consideration in merging the two main events is to minimize disruption to traffic.
“As advised Sunday would be a good day to hold the main events because there is lesser flow of cars within the city,” Romero said.
She added that the decision came after a series of planning between the Kadayawan Executive Committee and the City Transport and Traffic Management Office.
Aside from traffic having the two main events merged in one single day will bring more vibrancy to the festival.
“It would be more vibrant and festive and where it will attract more people to visit the streets,” Romero said.
The Street Dancing Competition or the Indak-Indak and Floral Float Parade or Pamulak will be merged into one street parade held on the morning of August 18 (Sunday).
“The street parade (pamulak and indak-indak) will start at 6 a.m. and hopefully will end at 12 noon, in case people will miss the parade in the morning, the showdown of indak-indak will happen towards the evening,” she said.
The City Tourism chief said that another reason for holding the two events in one day is to have a grand closing for the festival. In the past, the Kadayawan weekend which comprises of the Indak-Indak held on a Saturday and the Pamulak on Sunday marks the culmination of the Kadayawan.
“Making it one day will make a very good closing for the last day of the Kadayawan,” Romero said.
Aside from merging the main events which are crowd-drawers, Romero said they will be bringing in the mega tent at the venue which is San Pedro Square or the area in front of Rizal Park and the City Hall.
“We’ll be putting back the mega tent because that is also the advice of our Mayor because the weather will be unpredictable, it is the advice of the Mayor na mapasilongan ang mga spectators (spectators will be sheltered),” Romero said.
Additional seating will be installed at the square to accommodate more spectators.
“We’re looking for bleachers and more chairs para comfortable ang mga muadto sa San Pedro Square (so those going to San Pedro Square will be seated more comfortably)
Romero said they are targeting 250,000 visitors for Kadayawan and they are hopeful of achieving this tourism target. (RGA/PIA)
