Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte
DAVAO CITY – Mayor Sara Z. Duterte has canceled all the big festivities here as it declared a period of mourning and vigilance starting April 17 until December 31, 2020.
She made the declaration amid the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, which affected a total of 83 persons in the city alone. Of that number, 16 had died but 46 others recovered.
The Executive Order released Friday also said that all city and national government celebrations like Kadayawan slated in August, parties, anniversaries, and festivities shall be canceled.
Duterte also ordered the cancelation of all government-sponsored events and crowd-drawing activities, including those linked to the celebration of this year's Kadayawan sa Dabaw festival.
She added that the commemoration of important dates and legal holidays should be kept short.
“All barangays shall refrain from an extravagant celebration of their fiesta. All founding anniversaries/Araw ng Barangay celebrations shall be canceled,” she added.
All private parties should be low-key with no more than 25 guests as big celebrations are advised to be postponed until 2021.
“Low-key means if you celebrate, your guest must not exceed 25 persons. Let us be mindful of what our neighbors are going through. Keep your parties and celebrations low-key and modest,” Sara said in a radio interview on Friday night.
As to the private sector who planned to conduct parties to their employees, Duterte suggested that they might opt to conduct a food distribution, feeding program, or financial assistance to their employees.
“We suggest the private sectors modify their celebrations. The city government shall file actions in cases of thoughtless extravagance in expenses for pleasure or display,” she added.
Meanwhile, the 3rd Alveo 70.3 Ironman, which was supposed to be held in May, was scheduled in 2021.
“The event is canceled and it will resume in 2021,” Duterte said
.She said all public gatherings and parties should also be held in abeyance until after the period of mourning and vigilance against Covid-19. (PNA)
