Mayor issues order creating Kadayawan steering body

A MONTH before the celebration of Kadayawan sa Dabaw, the City Government has issued an executive order creating the steering committee that will oversee the management of the festival.

Executive Order (EO) No. 22 issued by Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio on June 26 encourages the active participation of the private sector in this year's celebration.

"Through the years, the successful planning, implementation and monitoring of the various Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival activities have always been achieved through the cooperation and supervision of an Executive Committee, composed both of government and private sector representative," Duterte-Carpio said.

The EO does not contain budgetary provisions for the Kadayawan sa Dabaw 2012.

In her recent press briefing, the mayor said they are still working on how much the city is ready and will allocate for the festival.

Kadayawan sa Dabaw, dubbed as the country's King of Festivals, is usually celebrated every third weekend of August.

Highlight events of this year's Kadayawan sa Dabaw are slated August 17-19.

Duterte-Carpio, who is the chair of the steering committee, designated Orly Escarilla as the overall festival director and the official spokesperson.

Lawyer Jessie Marvin Melodias of the General Services Office (GSO) and Roland Reyes of the City Engineer's Office (CEO) were designated as the focal persons for the physical arrangement of the festival while Joseph Lawrence P. Garcia of the City Information Office (CIO) is the publicity, promotions and documentation officer. This year's theme has not been detailed in the order.