THE Cagayan de Oro City Government will be spending only at least P2 million for this year's Higalaay Festival.
City Investments and Promotions officer Eileen San Juan said this is due to the city's partnerships with the private sector.
"This is a lower cost of all the festivals that maybe other cities are spending, because we have good partnership with organizers, meaning it's not the city that's funding all the activities. The city will only be about spending P2-3 million for all the activities," she said.
One of the highlights of the fiesta celebration, the Miss Cagayan de Oro, is made possible through a partnership with local clothing brand Mags, while cooking show Kumbira is in partnership with Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association (Cohara).
"Everything is going smoothly, and we are coordinating with police everyday to ensure the peace and order during our celebrations," San Juan said.
San Juan said they are also expecting balikbayans particularly from the United States to participate in this year's Higalaay, particularly for the Duaw Kagayan, one of the core events of the fiesta.
"We're even expecting balikbayans, but these are participants of Duaw Kagayan, they will be attending also our different events," she said.
Events during the Higalaay Festival 2018 include include: Higalaay Agri Fair and Garden Show, Kumbira 2018, Kahimunan, Kagay-an Festival Marathon, Higalaay Choral Competition, Cowboy Festival, Miss Cagayan de Oro 2018 Coronation Night, 1st Motor Ace Kagay-an Dragon Boat Fiesta Race, Cagayan Carnival Parade, Higalaay Street Parade and Floats Civic Military Parade, Centrio Mall Bisperas Fireworks, 7th Mindanao Fashion Summit, Religious Procession, Fluvial Procession, SM Higalaay Pyro Festival, and Higalaay Festival Sale, among others.