THE Davao City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) is all set for the grander and bigger celebration of Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival 2017 as it also urged all Dabawenyos to participate during the festivities.
Speaking at the Kapehan sa Dabaw media forum, CTOO officer-in-charge Generose Tecson, said they have seen significant interest from foreign and local tourists who wanted to celebrate with the city but she also wants Dabawenyos to also take part.
"We are very ready and we are very much excited. Ang kulang nalang is that mas marami pa sana ang mga mag-participate po sa ating Kadayawan Festival (What's lacking here is that hopefully many will participate in Kadayawan Festival)," Tecson said, adding that participation will give Dabawenyos a deeper understanding of the city's history.
Colorful buntings and streamers adorn major thoroughfares.
Tecson, meanwhile, said the Indak-indak sa Kadalanan features the open and school-based categories.
A total of 11 teams confirmed to join the open event including Polomolok in South Cotabato, Compostela Valley and other community-based groups.
In school-based category, nine contingents are entered so far. But organizers will allot additional slots for those who want to join.
The Pamulak sa Kadayawan, for its part, will have five entries in the Dako category, six entries in Gamay and another four in Lahi category.
There are also five non-competing floats.
Tecson said that this year has more participants in Indak-Indak and the Pamulak sa Kadayawan.
A new competition, Pitik Kadayawan, is a drum beating competition with 11 contestants who will be stationed on each floats for a merrier and lively parade.
Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Incorporated president Captain Ronald Go also said they are proud to be the co-chair of the city in giving honors to its 11 tribes.
"I think it's a very laudable activity. We can see that giving honors to the 11 tribes of Dabaw is something that talks about our roots as Dabawenyos," he said.
This year's event is somehow challenging because of the implementation of Martial Law in the Mindanao where some players were expressing their apprehension on the security and despite the security issues, there are still an overwhelming interest from tourist.
Go added that the private sector has been active in helping the city as they already have 50 sponsors who will give financial help to the make the festival the biggest and the best Kadayawan ever.
"There is obviously a lot of interest as can be seen by the hotels that are obviously filling up as we approach Kadayawan and even for our judges we are having difficulty as to where to put them because of the lack of hotel rooms that something that we really need more hotels in Davao City as the city continue to progress," he said.