THE Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO) has reassured the residents of Davao City that they have taken measures to establish crowd control and security protocols during the Kadayawan festival events to prevent any potential stampedes.
PSSO Chief Angel Sumagaysay emphasized the challenges posed by limited space and the need to prioritize safety in a radio interview on August 22.
He stated, "Naa man gyu'y limitations kung makita nimo ang area, gusto man nato i-accommodate ang tanan wala man ta'y ginapili pero again, limitado ang space ug syempre ato pod nang i-secure (There are limitations within the area, we want to accommodate everyone without any discrimination, but again, the space is limited and of course, we need to secure it away from harm)."
His assurance came in response to a viral Facebook post by a literary page called "Words At Play" on August 19. The post criticized the lack of space for ordinary people to enjoy the various Kadayawan events and competitions. The author mentioned that large pavilions for elites and VIPs occupied a significant portion of the event spaces, leaving limited spots for the general public to witness performances.
"This gives me an impression that maybe, the performances are intended for this group of priviledged [sic] people, and we are just bystanders who are lucky to have a few glimpses of the wonderful spectacles," the Facebook page author wrote.
Sumagaysay explained that PSSO determined the volume of allowed crowds and coordinated based on safety assessments to prevent stampedes and disturbances to VIPs, which could escalate if not controlled.
He also said that during Kadayawan events, priority was given to persons with disabilities (PWDs), pregnant women, senior citizens, and children to occupy available bleachers. However, he mentioned that a "first come, first serve" approach was applied in such events.
“We have to assess the situation kay dili naman pod pwede nga nagalingkod tas naay nagatindog sa imong atubangan, useless siya, that's why gina-limit nato nga kadtong nakauna dira, medyo diretso diretso pod ang mga activities (We have to assess the situation because it's not good to see that you would sit while someone stands in front of you, they're useless. That's why we limit the volume of people, so those who arrive early have the privilege to watch the activities with minimal disturbances)," Sumagaysay said.
Meanwhile, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) previously reported no untoward incidents during the festival's duration. ICE