The annual “Singkamas Festival” in San Marcelino town, Zambales province has been canceled again to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (Photo by Joanna Rose Aglibot)
SAN ANTONIO, Zambales—The government of San Marcelino town in this province has canceled its annual “Singkamas Festival” for the second time as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19, officials said Monday, Jan. 31.
In a statement, San Marcelino Mayor Elvis Ragadio Soria said the local government is prioritizing the health of its residents, prompting him to scrap the festivity that is staged every last week of February.
The festival is the town’s way of celebrating its bounty harvest of singkamas (Mexican Turnip or jicama), which is abundant there.
Before the pandemic, the town would hold the festival by featuring a street dance parade and various competitions, drawing thousands of tourists across the country.
The festival was first canceled last year, also due to the pandemic.
Zambales has been placed again under COVID-19 Alert Level 3, the third most stringent in the 5-tier alert level system in the country, from Feb. 1 to 15. INQ