Mayon-affected towns postpone fiesta celebrations

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY --- Celebration of festivals in two Mayon-affected towns in Albay province have been postponed due to the volcano’s continuous effusive eruption.

In an interview on Friday, Honey Beth Majadillas, Daraga information officer, said organizers of the Daraga Town Fiesta in honor of Nuestra Señora de la Porteria, scheduled on Sept. 8, have decided to defer the celebration.

“Lahat po ng activities cancelled po and ipo-focus po muna sa Arangkada Banwa Caravan (ABC) services (All activities have been cancelled and the focus will be on Arangkada Banwa Caravan services),” Majadillas said.

She said the ABC, which is the town’s vision of moving forward, provides not just health services but also basic services to the people.

“Scheduled every Friday, two barangays (villages) receive all the services of every department of our LGU, even police clearance applications. We started last Aug. 4 for Barangay Villahermosa and Mayon. Now, the ABC is in Barangay Inarado and Alobo,” she said.

POSTPONED. Celebrations of festivals in two Mayon-affected towns in Albay province have been postponed due to the volcano’s continuous effusive eruption. On Thursday (August 10) Daraga Mayor Carlwyn G. Baldo and the organizers of the Daraga Town Fiesta, scheduled on Sept. 8, have decided to defer the celebration. (Photo courtesy of LGU Daraga)

Majadillas said the ABC is being eyed to provide basic services year round.

In a statement, Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo said that aside from the safety of the public, the ABC funds will also be used for Mayon-related operations that cover 3,385 individuals, or 950 families, from four affected villages and who are currently sheltered in six evacuation centers.

“Muya ta man po na gibun gilayon na makolor dangan maogma an pag-selebrar ta san fiesta, pero sa ngana mas kaypwan ta nganay masyerto an seguridad dangan karayan san satun na mga kaemanwa lalo na po an mga apektado san padagos na pag-alburuto san Bulkang Mayon (We want to make sure that the celebration of the fiesta will be colorful and pleasant, but for now we want to make sure the safety and well-being of our people, especially those affected by the ongoing eruption of the Mayon Volcano),” he said.

He said religious activities will continue and will be supported by the local government.

In an earlier announcement, Guinobatan Mayor Paul Chino Garcia also postponed the celebration of the Longganisa Festival, citing the ongoing Mayon unrest.

“In the meantime, we postponed the Longganisa Festival because of our evacuees and the Mayon Volcano’s unrest,” he said.

Garcia said celebration of the Longganisa Festival will resume once the situation of Mayon Volcano is back to normal. (PNA)