THIS year's Higalaay Festival in Cagayan de Oro City will be bigger, albeit amid the martial law declaration and security threats.
There are going to be 14 core events and 69 parallel events slated for August 1 to 31, Dorothy Jean Pabayo, chairperson of the City Tourism Council, said.
Pabayo said they are still expecting the influx of foreign tourists, especially the Kagay-anon balikbayans who usually come home during the city fiesta on August 28.
The festival will be bigger as more activities have been added this year. Pabayo said the City Government has allocated P1 million for the events, compared to about P200,000 last year.
"Our promotions focused on increasing tourist arrivals. We are expecting that all of our hotels will be filled up, and they will have their share of customers and guests, especially we're talking about 1 month celebration, so everybody will be coming and going out of our city," Pabayo said.
"We still have our usual swing of foreign tourists coming in Cagayan de Oro City. We are not thinking about the martial law extension, because CDO is peaceful, and progressive, it is business as usual here, it's very normal here. People are learning that there is nothing to fear, we're just as happy as before," she added.
Task Force Oro Commander Colonel Royland Orquia, meanwhile, laid down the dos and dont's during the street parade events while calling for public cooperation for the security measures.
All events, including the parallel activities, have their own security plans, but Orquia said they are closely focusing on the parade events where more than 23,000 people are expected to participate.
"Rest assured that all the security elements composing all sectors will join hand in hand to see to it that all the activities will be safe, security is of paramount importance. Of course, we'll have considerable number of solders, police and other law enforcement agencies," he said.
"As of now, we have the same level of threat, continuous ang security measures sa Marawi (security measures in Marawi are continuous) so we cannot lower our guard," he added.
Orquia reminded the public to bring pertinent documents or identification cards during the parade and to show these to security personnel when challenged.
He said everyone is also urged to report suspicious characters or items.
Orquia warns the public that bomb jokes will not be tolerated during the parade. He said persons who make bomb jokes will be arrested.
Orquia said deadly weapons, backpacks and ball caps will be prohibited during the parade as well as the use of umbrellas.
Spectators are also discouraged from bringing children and vehicles.
The no smoking policy will also be strictly implemented, and that vendors are not allowed along the parade route, he said.
"Avoid watching the parade if you are under the influence of alcohol. Drones are not allowed except accredited by the fiesta committee, and parallel activities are not allowed unless otherwise approved by the city," Orquia said.
Initially, the fiesta committee had second thoughts whether they will include the parades in the fiesta activities because of the security threats.
But Councilor Jay Roa Pascual, chairperson of the City Council Committee on Tourism, said they later on decided to include this as the Higalaay Festival would not be the same without the parades.
Pascual also said he believes that the fiesta activities will be an opportunity for the business community to regain what they lost during the announcement of the martial law.
The first day of the month-long celebration will kick off with the Agri Fair and Garden Show, followed by the Mindanao Fashion Summit, Asean Landmark Lighting, Cowboy Festival, Kahimunan Regional Trade Fair 2017, Kagay-an Festival Marathon, Carnival street dance competition, the newest Higalaay Choral Competition, the first Higalaay Mindanao Expo 2017, Miss Cagayan de Oro 2017, Street Parade and Floats, Bisperas Fireworks, rligious and fluvial processions, Pyro Musical Festival, and Higalaay Festival Sale.