THE Zamboanga City Government has decided to push through with a “toned-down” celebration of the 83rd Charter Day anniversary, dubbed as the Dia de la Ciudad de Zamboanga on February 26, but some potentially-crowd drawer activities have been canceled.
Christian Olasiman, head of this city’s Special Events Team, announced Monday, February 10, that the decision was made during a meeting last week with Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar and some department heads to continue with the annual celebration but tone it down, this time minus those activities that would draw huge crowd of spectators.
Olasiman said canceled are the Inter-school Drum and Lyre Competition at the sports complex on February 21, the Grand Civic-Military Parade and the Field Demo on February 26.
He said the Main Commemorative Program and the Local Achievers Awards, which were originally scheduled at the sports complex in the afternoon of February 26, will instead be held after the flag raising ceremony at 8 a.m. on the same day at City Hall grounds.
He said that all other activities calendared for the Dia de Zamboanga celebration will continue and in fact some events have already been conducted, but following certain guidelines set by the City Health Office.
Under the guidelines, those who have had travel history to China and other countries with confirmed 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) cases are advised to undergo self-quarantine at home for 14 days; those feeling sick or not feeling well are advised not to attend any of the activities and just stay home or better yet go to the hospital; and the city has partnered with some pharmaceuticals for the “wet sampling” on the attendees, providing them with hygiene kits. (SunStar Zamboanga)