By Felipe V. Celino
ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Vice President Sara Duterte and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will attend one of the activities of the Capiztahan festival on Saturday, April 15, 2023.
Gov. Fredenil Castro said in a press conference Monday, April 10, that the two will join some senators and other national officials in gracing the event to be held in front of the provincial capitol.
Castro said the Capiztahan from April 13 to May 1 will be a teaser or prelude to what will happen in 2024 and in the years to come.
The governor also confirmed that national media networks such as CNN Philippines, GMA and Island Living Channel, among others, will be in the province on April 15 to cover and witness the celebration.
Castro has wanted the festival to be run by a non-governmental organization (NGO) in the coming days.
He said the NGO will be headed by businessman Jose Neri Ong, president and chief executive officer of Pueblo de Panay Inc.
The province is 90 percent prepared and all the activities are fully supported by local government units, the governor added.
He lauded the Roxas City government for supporting the vision of the provincial government that the Capiztahan would be the biggest festival in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Alphonsus “Al” Tesoro, Capiz Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO) chief, and Atty. Luvim Amores, Human Resource Management Officer (HRMO) head, said that this will be the first time in the history of Capiz that the province will be holding more than 15 days of festivities.
Tesoro said that there will be no “dull moment” in the 19-day Capiztahan activities wherein 52 events will be held.
Around P57,648,533 was allocated by the provincial government for this year’s festivity, said board member Jonathan Sonny Besa, chairman committee on appropriation of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Besa said the amount was taken from the 2022 capital outlay savings.
