INSTEAD of a competition, this year’s Pasidungog Festival will serve as a launch for next year’s contest, Cebu Province Executive Chief of Staff James Canoy said Thursday, July 23, 2026.
Canoy said the Aug. 29 presentation, which replaces the former Pasigarbo sa Sugbo, will be a preview rather than a full-fledged competition.
“It is not a competition; it’s just like a launch for the Pasidungog Festival next year,” Canoy said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
Showcase
Seven local government units (LGUs) have confirmed their participation in the Aug. 29 presentation at the Cebu City Sports Center: Carcar City, the City of Naga, Argao, Toledo City, Borbon, Carmen and Dumanjug.
Canoy said Bantayan has requested to join with its Palawod Festival, with organizers seeking approval to ensure the 4th District is represented.
Street dancing contingents and floats will parade from the Capitol to the Cebu City Sports Center. Each participating LGU will receive a P100,000 subsidy.
The showcase will be held alongside Pasundayag sa Pagtuo as part of the Capitol’s month-long founding anniversary celebration. Canoy said the Provincial Government had initially earmarked P15 million for festival subsidies but declined to disclose the additional amount originally planned for participating LGUs.
Budget
The Provincial Government allocated P20 million for the month-long celebration, lower than the P25 million in 2025 and P23 million in 2024.
The festivities include an agri-fair, weekly medical and surgical missions, and other Capitol events, culminating in Gov. Pamela Baricuatro’s State of the Province Address on Aug. 31. Canoy also said the Capitol Social Hall will reopen on Aug. 3 after a P1 million ceiling repair project.
Advisory
The Cebu Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) also warned the public against fake social media posts claiming food concessionaires and bazaar vendors should register through the office for the Pasidungog Festival.
The PTO said no registration, accreditation or application process has been opened and urged the public to rely only on its official communication channels for festival updates. / CDF
