Mayor: 27th Kadayawan festival was the best so far

THE staging of the 27th Kadayawan sa Dabaw is the best so far, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said.

The mayor issued her post-Kadayawan assessment during her weekly press briefing at her office Monday after a successful Kadayawan sa Dabaw 2012 celebration.

"This year, I just let the executive committee handle the entire festival," the mayor said.

There were several private partners that have tied up with the city in organizing the city's grandest festival for the whole year.

"Gamay ra man ang akong parti sa preparations, didto lang sa security, gamay sa indak-indak ug sa mga prizes (I only have a little participation with the preparations, my only contribution was only on the security aspect, a bit on the Indak-Indak, and for the prizes)," she added.

For this year's Kadayawan, thousands of visitors from all over the country and across the world have flooded the city especially during the highlight events.

During the last day of the festival highlight event, particularly during the Pamulak, assistant city administrator Erwin Alparaque estimated at least 10,000 people who witnessed the flora float parade.

Lisette Marques, festival director of Duaw Dabaw Festival Foundation -- one of the official private partners of the city in organizing this year's Kadayawan -- said earlier that this year's Kadayawan was way better and merrier than last year.

Marques said they are hopeful to be given the same chance in partnering with the city in organizing all of the city's major festivals. (Jereco O. Paloma)