Davao City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) Officer-in-Charge Jennifer Romero said the highlight activities of Araw ng Dabaw were successful.
“Overall, it was a successful Araw ng Dabaw. We are really happy about the turnout of all activities that we planned,” Romero said after the flag ceremony Monday. She said that the success will not be possible without the cooperation of the departments of the city government, particularly the Public Safety and Security Office which is vital in monitoring safety and security.
Romero said that the successful staging of Araw ng Dabaw events is a huge sign that the city is moving forward.
“We are hoping that this will be a turn, a start of recovery, and of course, with all the face-to-face events of Davao city, of all the events and other big conventions, of course, the economic recovery will also be starting to increase so this would be a vital sign that we are already in the new stage and this will be a greater and exciting year for us, the entire Davao City,” Romero said.
To recap, the highlight events for Araw ng Dabaw were Reyna Dabawenya held last March 15, Mr. and Ms. LGU held last March 16, the Mutya ng Dabaw Coronation Month last March 17 and the Parada Dabawenyo and the Bands Clash last March 18.
The Parada Dabawenyo, which was held face-to-face for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, has gathered more than 25,000 people, including participants and spectators. More than 250 government and non-government organizations, public and private educational institutions, and other industries joined the parade.
On their floats during the Parada are the Mutya ng Dabaw winners: Mutya ng Dabaw 2023 Maria Isabel Pelayo, Diwa ng Dabaw 2023 Joanna Marie Franken, Sinag ng Dabaw 2023 Jamyla Diane Ampis, Pag-asa ng Dabaw 2023 Dulci Amor Lumictin, and Patnubay ng Dabaw 2023 Jendy Bentayao.
Reyna Dabawenya 2023 Shiela Magpale III, First Runner-up Gretchen Alnog, and Second Runner-Up Daizy Marie Beronio also attended the Parada.
Mr. and Ms. LGU winners also attended the Parada namely: Ms. LGU 2023 Rayjean Gain Tadios Ranan from the General Services Office (GSO), Mr. LGU Danna Lee 2023 Ignacio Lorenzo from the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) together with their runner-ups, First Runner-up for Ms. LGU Novie Lodovice Amores from the City Veterinarian Office (CVO), First Runner-up for Mr. LGU-Jehtrond Sotillo Huelar of the City Information Office (CIO), Second Runner up for Ms. LGU- Jhanna Belle Dulatre Andaya from City Health Office (CHO) and Second Runner-up for Mr. LGU Edwin Jake Quilisadio Bagolor from the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO).
Parada Dabawenyo was also attended by Vice President Inday Sara Duterte, First Congressional District Cong. Paolo Duterte, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, and other national and local government officials.
PSSO Head Angel Sumagaysay, in an interview Monday, said that the staging of the events for Araw ng Dabaw since March 1 had been generally peaceful.
He said that for the Parada, his score for the security cluster would be 10 over 10, a perfect score.
“All in all, generally peaceful and normal, and no reported significant events during the Parada Dabawenyo. Wala ta’y apprehensions kay maayo man pud ang coordination and fully aware man ang security clusters sa ilang functions during the Parada Dabawenyo na implement man siya properly (All in all it was generally peaceful and normal, there are no reported significant events during the Parada Dabawenyo. We did not have apprehensions because there has been good coordination and full awareness of the security clusters to their functions during the Parada Dabawenyo and these clusters were implemented properly),” Sumagaysay said, adding that their office will continue to augment security personnel for the remaining big-ticket events of the month, especially the Ironman Triathlon. CIO
