Cadiz Dinagsa successful, P700-M income expected

BACOLOD City – The twoweek celebration of the golden Dinagsa Festival in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, which concluded on Sunday, Jan. 28, has been generally peaceful.

There were no reported major incidents in relation to the annual celebration in honor of Señor Sto. Niño, according to Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr.

“Kanami. Everything has fallen into place, even the weather. Last time pwerti ang ulan, wala gid namaximize, but last night (Jan. 27) was good,” Escalante said.

Based on the crowd estimate of the Philippine National Police last year, there were about 450,000 festivalgoers in the city.

Escalante expects that the record has been surpassed since as early as 10 a.m. on the day of the festival highlights (Jan. 28), he was informed by the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office that all the major streets were experiencing traffic already.

The local chief executive also expects that this year’s festival will generate about P700 million in income, as the city has allocated a P25 million budget for the celebrations.

The mayor explained, “We spent money, but I’m sure people will earn out of it,”

The 50th Dinagsa Festival, which kicked off last Jan. 12, ran for two weeks, unlike the usual celebration that lasts for nine days.

Escalante was asked why people “dagsa” (flock to) Cadiz every year, and he said that the city is open and welcoming to everybody.

“We see to it nga mahatag namun ang na- expect sang amon bisita,” Escalante claimed.

Meanwhile, Tribu Bucad Caduhaan was hailed as the grand champion of the Dinagsa Festival Streetdance Competition, besting seven other tribes composed of clustered barangays.

Tribu Bucad Caduhaan received aP 200,000 cash prize.

Tribu Matinambi Tres was first runner-up and took home P150,000; Tribu Sicablun Quatro was second runnerup with P100,000; and Tribu Maraynon was third runner-up with P75,000.

Escalante said each of the winners will also receive P1 million worth of projects.

Tri bu Maje ca, Tri bu Tibanda, Tribu Hitalon, and Tribu Sewanara each received a P50,000 consolation prize./