Dumaguete City joins 25th int’l coastal clean-up drive
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Sept. 17 (PIA) - The city government of Dumaguete supports the annual celebration of the 25th International Coastal and Waterways clean-up drive this month.
In response, the city through the Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) leads the clean up drive today September 17 at 7:00 a.m. different designated coastal, waterways and inland waters in the city.
Information Officer Steve Gabriel said, the city is doing its effort of ensuring cleaner oceans and waterways year round, as the third week of September is declared as International Coastal Clean-Up Day.
Gabriel added, the activity aims to remove marine debris from the shores, waters and underwater and waterways, increase awareness on marine debris crisis and its adverse impact on the people and environment, and give an importance of a clean, healthy and sustainable marine environment.
On the other hand, Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria urged the city government workers, local and national agency, schools and other organizations to participate the activity to help maintain the coastal and inland waterways clean.
Clean up volunteers are asked to collect and record information about the debris into a data card.
Pursuant to Proclamation No. 470, series of 2003, the annual clean-up is simultaneously held worldwide every third Saturday of September with volunteers picking up wastes along shorelines and waterways, Gabriel added. (PIA NegOr/JCT)
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Negros Oriental’s Buglasan Festival of festivals preps underway
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Sept. 16 (PIA) The preparations for the Negros Oriental’s Buglasan Festival of festivals this year, are underway with more than 50 events calendared for a two-week long celebration from October 14 to 23.
Former Provincial Board Member Mariant Escaño-Villegas, this year’s Buglasan director today met and briefed the local tourism coordinators from different local government units (LGUs) the details of the activities and competition in the upcoming event.
The organizers are now busy preparing for the biggest event, the spectacle of Negros Oriental’s unique Buglasan Festival of festivals, one of the Philippines most colorful festivals which will commence on October 14 with daily activities and programs until October 23.
Festival of festivals showdown, street dance, and king and queen on October 21 Friday serve as the festival highlights. The LGUs’ booths at Sidlakan Negros Village will be set-up as a part of the venue celebration along with the corporate booths and with an array of mini restaurants for food.
The Buglasan festivals bring together the best contingents of the province’s more than 20 established festivals for a unified celebration and present its distinctive indigenous elements and legendary stories.
Showdown and street dancing represents the local fiestas in the municipalities and affords an opportunity for the public to witness the colorful activities in one place at one time which will be routed along Dumaguete’s main thoroughfares and presentation per contingent at the Lamberto Macial Sports and Cultural Center.
Expected influx of local, national as well as foreign tourists will bring in cash flow and economic surge during the Buglasan period.
This year’s Buglasan Festival annual celebration banners the theme, “Working Together to Bring Negros Oriental Tourism to Greater Heights” which the organizer is working doubly hard to make the province competitive and propel the tourism industry as its peak. (PIA NegOr/JCT)