- Parada Dabawenyo will be purely ‘walk only’ parade
THE PARADA Dabawenyo, the culminating event of the 89th Araw ng Dabaw celebration, will be purely a marching parade, so the use of vehicles is restricted, organizer Harold Quibete clarified on Thursday.
“We are going to make it a serious and celebratory event in essence because it is the founding anniversary of the charter day of the city and the iconic celebration of 100 years of city hall,” Quibete said during the Ispeak media forum on Thursday.
All the vehicles and assets of the City of Davao, land, air, and water, will be displayed from San Pedro Church to C.M. Recto. The assets will be on display from 6 a.m. until 12 noon.
“That is a nice place for our visitors, domestic and international, to have their photos taken together with the different assets that we don’t normally see on regular days,” Quibete said.
Association of e-bike owners, riders, and car dealers who usually showcase their vehicles may still join, but without their rides this time.
“Sometimes we miss the main point of why we are doing the march. Our parade is not an avenue to promote your brands; it is a celebration of the founding anniversary of the city,” he added.
A total of 404 registered contingents are expected, and 50 marching bands, along with 20,000-25,000 parading participants.
Quibete also advised participants to use foldable ones instead of the cane types or beach umbrellas during the march.
The parade will enforce the usual dos and don’ts, including bringing of laser lights, alcoholic beverages, bringing of bladed weapons, wearing of uniforms resembling the men in uniform security cluster, wearing of visors as long as the face is visible, among others.
Quibete reiterated that contingent managers are advised by their members to submit themselves for random frisking and report suspicious activities.
The Public Safety and Security Office will deploy a total of 3,500 personnel, static and roving, to secure the parade and the Konsierto Dabawanyo on the evening of March 28.
The Parada Dabawenyo is scheduled to begin at 6 a.m. on March 28, with the parade route starting at Roxas Avenue, and turning left onto C.M. Recto Ave., right onto Rizal St., left onto Iñigo St., and finally left onto San Pedro St.
