Benguet’s Strawberry Fest canceled due to nCoV threat
BAGUIO CITY –– The threat of a novel coronavirus (nCoV) outbreak has forced local officials to cancel major festivals in the provinces of Benguet and Kalinga.
Mayor Romeo Salda of La Trinidad town in Benguet on Tuesday issued an executive order canceling the annual Strawberry Festival slated in March.
The festival, which celebrates the town’s bounty of strawberries, draws a large crowd during its week-long revelry.
In Kalinga, local officials also suspended events of the ongoing 25th Founding Anniversary and 4th Bodong Festival.
Kalinga Gov. Ferdinand Tubban said the suspension is part of their preventive measure against the potential spread of nCoV.
Tubban said they would announce the rescheduled dates of activities after consultation with proper agencies.
Article continues after this advertisementThe main celebration of the Bodong Festival on Feb. 14, however, would proceed with a simpler program, Tubban said.
On Monday, the Tabuk City council passed a resolution requesting the postponement of the event since all activities of the festival are held in the city./lzb
For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link.