POSTPONED. The local government of Passi City postpones its Pintados Festival, the highlight is set on March 22, 2020. The postponement complies with the order of Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr implementing additional disease control measures as prevention against the coronavirus disease 2019. (Photo by Ian Paul Cordero)
ILOILO CITY – The Iloilo provincial government on Tuesday suspended for 45 days the holding of public events that will gather a large number of attendees amid the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. has issued Executive Order 028-B to implement additional disease control measures to protect the province from the virus.
The Department of Health (DOH) has placed the country on Code Red (Sub-level 1), and President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation 922 declaring a public health emergency throughout the Philippines, the order cited.
It said that the DOH is recognizing the need for containment measures, and the necessity of maintaining social or personal distancing to prevent virus transmission.
Thus, the DOH urges the public "to avoid attending, participating in, and organizing events that draw a huge number of attendees."
On Tuesday's media interview, Defensor said the suspension of big events will not solve the Covid-19 problem but will lessen the risk it poses to the public.
"We are reducing the opportunities of the people to gather and the chance of personal contact,” Defensor said.
Meanwhile, Passi town mayor Stephen Palmares told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in a phone interview that the annual Pintados de Passi Festival will be moved to a later date following the order of the governor.
The festival that gathers about 100,000 revelers yearly was supposed to have its opening salvo on Wednesday.
Starting in 1998, Palmares said Pintados de Passi was not postponed due to any health concern in the past.
The festival features street dancing performances that are branded with aggressive dance movements.
"We will reschedule the festival at the later date in compliance with the order of the governor. Rest assured that if the situation stabilizes, we will push through with the event," he said.
Eight tribes that were supposed to perform in the festival are all ready, he said.
Although the local government of Passi has incurred losses with the suspension of the event, Palmares said the safety of the public remains more important. (PNA)
