AS PART of its intensified internal cleansing efforts, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) conducted a surprise drug test on 692 police personnel on August 5, 2025, just days before the grand kickoff of the 2025 Kadayawan Festival.
DCPO Acting City Director Police Colonel Mannan C. Muarip personally took part in the testing and submitted his own sample, underscoring the leadership's commitment to accountability and integrity within the ranks.
The initiative is aimed at ensuring the readiness and discipline of police officers as they gear up for one of the city’s biggest cultural celebrations. It also forms part of the Philippine National Police’s broader “Ligtas na Pamayanan” campaign, which emphasizes internal reform, community safety, and public trust-building.
The DCPO has assured the public of its unwavering dedication to clean, honest, and effective law enforcement, especially during the high-profile celebration that draws thousands of locals and tourists.
In line with this commitment, 6,990 police officers under DCPO have already been briefed and assigned for duty throughout the month-long Kadayawan Festival, which officially opens on August 7 with the Misa Pasasalamat at San Pedro Cathedral and continues with a series of cultural and commercial events until August 31.
According to Police Captain Hazel Caballero-Tuazon, DCPO spokesperson, these officers will work in coordination with other units under the Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO), which is deploying a total of around 14,000 security personnel across the city during the festivities.
This year’s deployment is scaled down from the 20,000 personnel mobilized during the 2024 Kadayawan and Ironman 70.3 Davao events, but organizers say the streamlined operations will be more targeted and efficient.
Festival highlights include the Pag-Abli sa Kadayawan opening program on August 8 at Magsaysay Park, the Hiyas sa Kadayawan Cultural Presentation on August 9, and the Pamulak and Indak-Indak sa Kadayawan grand parades on August 17. Events such as cultural showcases, trade fairs, food bazaars, and concerts are also scheduled throughout the month.
The festival will conclude with Kadayawan Pasasalamat on August 20 at Rogen Inn, marking the end of another vibrant celebration of Davao’s rich culture, indigenous heritage, and the bountiful harvest that the Kadayawan Festival honors each year. DEF