Alabel, Sarangani
Province —The Sarangani Bay Festival is set to make a comeback after a pandemic
hiatus. The festival will take place from May 25 to 27, 2023, at Gumasa, in
Glan, Sarangani Province. This year's festival, themed "Return to
Paradise", will feature a variety of activities that promote environmental
awareness and conservation efforts for Sarangani Bay.
Dubbed Mindanao's
biggest beach festival, the Sarangani Bay Festival is set to attract more than
100,000 tourists and guests from all over the country. Organizers are gearing
up for a massive turnout as excitement builds up for this highly anticipated
event.
"This
celebration is one of the biggest festivals in the country. I look forward to
its continued growth and improvement every year with the help of our media
partners to spread the good news and promote the natural treasures of our
province," said Sarangani Governor Rogelio D. Pacquiao during a press
conference on Wednesday, May 17.
The Sarangani Bay
Festival offers a wide range of exciting events and activities for visitors to
participate in or enjoy as spectators.
Highlights include
the Crown of Thorns Collection, Scubasurero, and the I Love Clean SarBay
segment. Sports enthusiasts can participate in different sports activities,
such as the SarBay Invitational Jetski Race and a beach volleyball tournament.
The SarBay Color Run for a Cause is also a popular event. At night, beach
parties featuring national and local performers keep the festivities going.
Sarangani PNP
Provincial Director PCOL Nicomedes Olaivar, who is serving as the Incident
Commander for the Sarangani Bay Festival, has assured the public that security
forces are fully prepared and ready to ensure the safety of all attendees.
Festival-goers can enjoy the event with peace of mind, knowing that their
safety is a top priority.
As the first
in-person Sarangani Bay Festival since the pandemic, Provincial Health Officer Dr.
Arvin Alejandro reminds attendees to take necessary precautions to prevent the
spread of COVID-19. With Sarangani still under Alert Level 2 status, Dr.
Alejandro encourages festival-goers to practice good hygiene, including cough
etiquette and hand washing, and to voluntarily wear masks to protect themselves
and others.
In addition to the
festivities, the Sarangani Bay Festival will also feature an immunization drive
for those who wish to receive a COVID-19 booster shot, as well as an
information and testing booth for HIV-AIDS.
Sarangani Provincial
Tourism Officer April Marjorie Rudes is encouraging festival-goers to not only
participate in the party and sports activities but also to take part in
environmental-related events.
To keep the festival
area clean, the Municipality of Glan is enforcing the collection of an
environmental fee of P30 and a tourism ecological fee of P20.
The environmental fee
is mandated by Special Ordinance No. 20-016 series of 2015, which aims to
provide a comprehensive approach to environmental management, development,
protection, and remediation during the Sarangani Bay Festival.
The tourism
ecological fee is based on Municipal Ordinance No. 22-018 series of 2022, also
known as the “Tourism Ecological Fee Ordinance.” This fee is imposed on
non-resident tourists, visitors, and mountaineers who stay at any accommodation
establishment within Glan. The collected fees will support sustainable programs
for tourism, environmental protection, conservation and management, peace and
order, as well as livelihood development.
The Sarangani Bay
Festival, also known as Sarbay Festival, was launched in 2006. Conceived by
then-governor Miguel Rene A. Dominguez, the festival was created to promote
environmental advocacy and protect the marine resources of Sarangani Bay.
Starting as a small, local event, the festival has grown over the years to
showcase the province's rich cultural heritage and raise awareness about
environmental issues. (Genory Vanz
Alfasain/Voice of the Youth Network)
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