An official of the City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) expressed optimism that the “blue blotter” pronouncement by the Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) will not affect the upcoming 39th Kadayawan sa Davao celebration.
PRO 11 Director Nicholas Torre III said that they retrieved “blue blotter” books or unreported crimes. He claims that the books contain multiple false entries or were marked as “for record only,” meaning they were documented but not reported as actual crimes.
Charlotte Parba, Admin Officer of CTOO, said on Monday that they are confident Torre’s pronouncement will not affect the 39th Kadayawan sa Davao celebration.
She also said that it is one challenge that all Dabawenyos should be working together in promoting peace and order in Davao City.
“We all know that Kadayawan is one of the most celebrated events sa ating syudad and it is also one na talagang naghahatak ng mga turista. That pronouncement, although, wala man ta authority to question it sa among level but then we are confident that it will not affect the Kadayawan sa Davao celebration because Davao history is better known to us, we know that we enjoy peace and order, and that is one of the reasons why tourists come here and they enjoy our festivities,” Parba said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao.
Parba also said that despite the pronouncement of PRO 11, CTOO is confident that it can still promote Davao City as one of the safest cities in the country.
Kadayawan sa Davao Festival, which will officially kick off on August 8, is a celebration that pays homage to Davao City’s cultural tapestry and bountiful harvests.
CTOO head Jennifer Romero said earlier that despite the political climate that the city is currently experiencing, they will remain steadfast in their thrust for the City Tourism Office to promote the festival.
Romero said that they are targeting to attract 200,000 to 250,000 tourists and she is optimistic about achieving such a target considering the line-up of activities plus the holding of the Davao Ironman 70.3 on August 11.
The 39th Kadayawan sa Davao carries the theme “King of Festivals, Together in Harmony, One Vibrant Community.”
