the Philippines and to the rest of the world,” she said.
Lumbatan also noted the need for matching the budget to the level of quality the city aims for. “If we would like to come up with a better and quality activity, it really entails pud the corresponding budget. So for this year, we have P20 million ang atoang projected nga cost sa atoang allocated na gyud siya,” she said.
(If we would like to come up with a better and quality activity, it also entails the corresponding budget. So for this year, we have P20 million as our projected cost of what we have already allocated.)
To raise the city’s profile and align with established festivals like Kadayawan, Dinagyang, and Sinulog, Jalapadan emphasized the need for continued investment in tourism, citing a 43% increase in tourist arrivals in 2023 and 2024 compared to 17% in 2022. The figures come from accredited hotels and tourism accommodations, with additional visitors using Airbnb or visiting relatives.
“This year, we have a shift gamay sa atong (slight in our) tourism development plan for Cagayan de Oro for the next three years, 2026 to 2029. So we have initial talks now with the Department of Tourism about how to optimize and maximize the potential that we have here in Cagayan de Oro,” Jalapadan said.
With its diverse program targeting various sectors, the Higalaay Festival continues to build on its identity as the “Friendliest Festival” in the country. Jalapadan invited the public to join the activities happening throughout August. (RTP/PIA-10)
