DESPITE the executive committee's proposal to increase the budget for this year's Pasko Fiesta celebration, Dabawenyos must expect a not-so-extravagant celebration compared to last year.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said he will restrain from spending too much and focus more instead on addressing the chances of Ebola entering the city, considering the bulk of people who will be coming home for Christmas from all over the world.
He said, during Friday's interview, "Ug sa bibo nga kwarta, gapugong ko kay daghan ko ginaatubang problema. Una na diha ang Ebola, preparahan ta na, simbako moabot na magkabuang gyud ta kay daghan nangamatay sa Africa (I don't intend to spend much on revelries because there are so many problems we face. Among them, Ebola. We have to prepare for this because it just might enter our city. God forbid it does, we will have a big problem in our hands just as the disease caused in Africa)."
The mayor, however, assured that the City Government will allocate funds to make the celebration festive.
The Pasko Fiesta sa Dabaw executive committee earlier proposed a total budget of P9.6 million for the event, which is an increase of more than P5 million from last year's budget. The increase excludes the proposed additional P1.5 million for the decorations.
Some of the new events for the Pasko fiesta are Tugtogan or the battle of the bands, Yugyugan sa Pasko, Pasko ng Empleyado, Lamdag Parada or the lighted floats, costumes parade and the Pahalipay ni Mayor Rody and Bise Mayor.