KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews / 7 February) – The city government has decided to postpone the street thematic parade and drum and lyre competitions, among the highlights of the 22nd charter day celebration, to protect the public from possible exposure to the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019 nCov-ARD).
The parade was scheduled for February 10, the start of the five-day festivities.
Lawyer Jose Paolo Evangelista, head of the City Information Office, clarified the activities were just postponed but not canceled.
He said they do not want children, who are mostly the participants in the carnival-themed parade and drum and lyre contests, to get exposed to the virus.
He, however, stressed the activities will happen at a later date or once everyone is assured there is no threat of nCov in the city.
But the civic parade will take place as scheduled, as most of the participants are adults, he said.
The decision to postpone some of the activities came after a meeting on Friday of officials from the City Health Office, City Tourism Office, CIO and the Kidapawan City Schools Division.
Meanwhile, the city government had placed bottles of hand sanitizers in different public places to ensure people’s health and safety, Mayor Joseph Evangelista said.
He added they will see to it that public toilets have water and soap. (Malu Cadeliña-Manar/MindaNews)
