THE Negros Occidental Provincial Government canceled the Panaad sa Negros Festival, which is scheduled on April 20 to 26.

The cancelation was announced Monday, March 16, after Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson met with some mayors of the province amid the threat of coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Jennylind Cordero, provincial tourism officer and executive director of Panaad Festival, said the decision to cancel the annual event was arrived at after Lacson met with the Association of Chief Executives (ACE) in Talisay City.

"We are all excited for Panaad sa Negros Festival 2020. However, the health and safety of our fellow Negrenses are our top priority, the Capitol said.

“We regret to inform everyone that this year’s Panaad sa Negros Festival is canceled. We promise to bring you the best Panaad sa Negros Festival in the future," it said in its Panaad Festival Facebook page.

When asked what will happen to the P20-million budget set aside for the holding of the event, Cordero said it will be returned to the fund of the provincial budget.

"We will think of other activities when everything returns to normal," she said.

Meanwhile, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz appealed to the public and the private sector, as the province implements protocols and guidelines to protect itself against the threat of Covid-19.

Diaz said on Monday that the executive order of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson aims to minimize the entry of outsiders who may be contaminated already.

"These measures are not just for us but for all. So the police and the military have been issued the EOs. Hopefully, they will implement it without any partiality for the protection of all the people of Negros Occidental," he said.

This appeal is for everybody because we cannot act as if "everything is normal as the next two weeks is critical," he added.

"All corporations have corporate social responsibilities. It's not time to prioritize something other than health. It’s time to prioritize our health and safety and the lives of our people," Diaz said.

Other than health reasons, he said the EO aims to conserve the resources of the province like the manpower and spaces for patients with possible Covid-19.

Our borders with the Oriental is closed and people there will not be allowed to enter our side of the island especially that they already have positive case.

"We cannot afford to put our people at risk by allowing them entry here as they may already be exposed or infected with the virus," he said.

Meanwhile, Diaz said the Provincial Government will buy more thermal kits and personal protective equipment for those manning the borders and the district hospitals were earlier identified as containment areas for patients positive for the virus

For the test kits, Diaz said the Capitol is keen on buying them when it is certified as reliable by the Department of Health and the World Health Organization.

This will make the identification of patients with the virus faster, he added.