THE towns of Bayambang and Calasiao in Pangasinan have canceled their respective grand fiesta celebration in 2020 and instead opted for religious and charitable activities amid the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In his Facebook post on Tuesday, March 3, Calasiao Mayor Joseph Arman Bauzon said the Senior Tesoro Association has agreed that the town fiesta be done and celebrated religiously.

“Due to the popular Covid-19, earlier known as the 2019-nCoV, the board of trustees decided to comply with the directives issued by the higher authorities and the recommendations of the Department of Health; avoiding the attendance, participation, organizing of public events that draw a huge number of attendees,” he said.

Bauzon said big social events and gatherings for the town fiesta are canceled to avoid possible local transmission of the virus.

Instead, he said a nine-day novena will be observed in honor of Senior Divino Tesoro until May 2.

“The novena will be concluded with a procession and fireworks display. On May 3, there will be a Eucharistic Celebration and to be followed by a whole day medical mission,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Bayambang Pista’y Baley 2020 committee also decided to cancel all the activities for this year’s town fiesta, and the funding for the celebration will be used instead as seed money to start a revolutionary fund for the Bayambang poverty reduction plan projects.

The funding amounts to P5 million donated by the Kasama Kita sa Barangay Foundation, Inc. here.

The committee assured there are still no cases of Covid-19 in the town. (PNA)