BY ALYANNA ORBITA/DSSC INTERN
THE CITY allocated a P350,000 budget to refurbish all 11 native houses in the Tribal Village inside Magsaysay Park, which formally opens on Aug. 8 for the 39th Kadayawan Festival.
Jennifer Romero, acting City Tourism Operations Office (CTTO) head, said the budget would be equitably shared among the 11 participating tribes.
She also dispelled the rumors that some tribes received preferential treatment in funding allocation. For instance, Romero said it was not true the Lumad tribes had a bigger budget than the Moro groups.
Romero also debunked the issue of cementing the replica houses so they would last longer. The CTTO strives to preserve the authenticity of the structures, which represent the cultural heritage of the tribes.
The Tribal Village highlights the 11 ethnolinguistic tribes, featuring their diverse culture, food, clothing, and products.
Meanwhile, Romero said they already prepared for the extreme weather changes for the outdoor activities, particularly the culminating events, the Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan and Floral Parade.
She said they received marching orders from Mayor Sebastian Duterte to set up a mega tent to shield the crowd from rain or sun. The mega tents will cover San Pedro Square to Chowking.
File Photo: Bing Gonzales
