PAGADIAN CITY: Mayor Romeo Pulmones
has announced he has cancelled the much-awaited dancing and ritual
competitions, to the dismay of city residents.
Pulmones told media in a press
conference he regrets the termination, citing only security reasons for doing
so.
The mayor answered he cannot divulge
the details when asked what specific threat the city is encountering at present
that warrants such cancellation.
He said the city is exerting all its
efforts to maintain peace and order for the coming feast and security of visitors
within the perimeters of Sto. Niño Cathedral.
Pulmones said the activities of the
coming “Pangadyian Festival” is difficult to keep in check one by one as it is
held in different venues that the city is carefully testing out its protective
measures.
The mayor added law enforcers would
have a hard time keeping the public safe and sound since all the events are not
converged in one area.
Added to that premise, the total
police roster of 169 cannot secure the population of almost 200-thousand.
Pulmones said a “Pangadyian Sayaw
Festival” will be held after every novena at the vicinity of Sto. Nino
Cathedral with nine contingents of students performing the ritual dancing.
This coming Feb. 22, all the
Pangadyian Festival contingents and performers, along with their teachers and
choreographers will present their dances during the opening program PRISAA, a
regional meet of private schools be held here, assured the mayor.
The street dancing and ritual
competition caps the annual fiesta celebration of Sr. Santo Nino, drawing local
and foreign tourists in this city.