THE Davao City Police Office (DCPO) is deploying nearly 7,000 police personnel to ensure peace and order throughout the 2025 Kadayawan Festival, which will run from August 8 to 31.
Police Captain Hazel Caballero-Tuazon, DCPO spokesperson, said during the Davao Peace and Security press briefing on Wednesday, July 23, that 6,990 police officers have already been briefed for festival duty.
According to Tuazon, the main deployment begins on August 7, but even before that, they will already be deploying K9 units and EOD teams to conduct soft security operations.
Tuazon said that early inspections will include “secluded areas” within the venues to ensure public safety.
She also added that a major part of the security plan this year is the enforcement of the city’s ‘culture of security,’ including a strict backpack ban at festival sites.
“If backpacks are not allowed inside the venue, please do not just leave them unattended on the side,” she said in the vernacular. “Our residents are very alert and will immediately report unattended bags to Central 911, which triggers a full police and Swat response. And most of the time, they’re just personal items. It’s a waste of our personnel’s time and resources.”
Despite the inconvenience, Tuazon said the police remain grateful for the public’s vigilance. She also emphasized that public cooperation is essential to maintaining peace and order, especially during large-scale events like Kadayawan.
As of now, Tuazon said there’s no formal request for augmentation from other units, but the Police Regional Office-Davao (PRO-Davao) Regional Mobile Force Battalion is on standby to assist if needed.
In 2024, approximately 20,000 personnel were deployed to secure the festival, including 11,111 police officers. That year’s goal was a “zero untoward incident” celebration — a benchmark the DCPO hopes to match or exceed in 2025.
The Kadayawan Festival is Davao City’s biggest annual cultural celebration, showcasing the rich heritage of its 11 ethnolinguistic groups through parades, music, dances, and indigenous rituals. Thousands of tourists and locals are expected to flock to the city for the festivities. DEF