CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—- Bukidnon Gov. Jose Maria Zubiri has ordered the cancellation of the renowned Kaamulan Festival in Malaybalay City as the COVID-19 threat continued to loom.
Zubiri signed the order on Wednesday (Feb. 12) urging all mayors, village officials and lumad leaders to stop preparing for the festival set on March 23 to April 23.
The order came after Zubiri received a memo from Health Secretary Francisco Duque III urging the public to avoid large crowds, like in concerts and other gatherings, as a precaution against COVID-19.
The DOH had said five persons were still being monitored for the virus in the region as of Feb. 12.
Zubiri said in his order that the festival was being cancelled “as a proactive measure to keep the people of the province safe from the highly infectious disease.”
The 2020 Kaamulan is the latest casualty because of the virus scare.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte earlier cancelled “Araw ng Dabaw” activities. General Santos City followed, cancelling its Kalilanagan Festival scheduled this month.
Kaamulan Festival is the only ethnic cultural event in the country that is participated by the seven major lumad groups in Bukidnon.
The month-long event features lumad games, dances, street dances and a rodeo by homegrown cowboys, which attracts thousands of tourists.
Edited by TSB