Araw ng Davao successful, peaceful

THE city successfully concluded the 88th Araw ng Davao festivities without untoward incidents, the Davao City Police Office reported.

DCPO acting city director Police Colonel Hansel Marantan said in a statement on Monday, March 17, 2025, that the cultural celebration and founding of Davao City concluded peacefully due to the comprehensive deployment and augmentation of thousands of personnel from the Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO) and the local government unit of Davao City.

“Davao City once again achieves an incident-free celebration, marking another milestone in its legacy of peace and security. The success of the 88th Araw ng Dabaw 2025 is a testament to the strong collaboration between the Security and Safety Cluster, the Local Government of Davao City, force multipliers, and the active participation of the community,” he stated.

“Through unwavering vigilance, discipline, and teamwork, we have safeguarded this grand celebration, ensuring that every Dabawenyo and visitor could enjoy the festivities without fear. This collective effort highlights the commitment of our city to maintaining order and upholding the highest standards of security,” the official added.

The 88th Araw ng Dabaw officially kicked off last March 1 through the Pasiugdang Pagsaulog at Rizal Park and concluded with the Parada Dabawenyo on March 16 with over 400 participating contingents from various public and private sectors.

During the final culmination, a solidarity walk supporting former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague, Netherlands, was also held, merged with the annual parade.

DCPO said that the activity which the police office estimated to have been attended by 20,000 to 30,000 individuals was successful.

To recall, PSSO implemented extensive measures with 4,000-strong security force, composed of personnel from the Civil Security Unit (CSU), City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO), City Disaster Risk and Management Office (CDRRMO), and Task Force Davao (TFD), to maintain the peace and order of Davao’s most important event.