BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
GUIMARAS – After a three-year hiatus, this island province welcomed over 53,000 visitors for the Manggahan Festival 2023 and the 31st anniversary of the provincehood of Guimaras.
From the festival opening on April 29 up to its highlight on May 22, 53,071 tourists were recorded. Of these, 52,436 were local while 635 were foreigners, data from the Guimaras Police Provincial Office (GPPO) showed.
GPPO director Police Colonel Richard B. Baluis said the influx of tourists was because of the loosened coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic restrictions.
“Iba kasi ang [community quarantine] classification ngayon, libre kasi nakakatawid na walang restrictions kompara noon na parang nag-adjust lang kami. Konti talaga last year pero hindi pwedeng pagtapatin ang comparison,” Baluis said.
The province’s top cop said despite the increase in visitors, Manggahan Festival 2023 was “generally peaceful”.
“Masasabi ko na generally peaceful ‘yong ating pag-celebrate dahil wala tayong mga major incidents na pwede nating ma-connect sa lapse ng security. May mga minor [incidents], pero nandiyan kaagad ang ating mga kapulisan,” said Baluis.
The GPPO was on full alert status during the three weekends since the festival opened. On Monday, over 350 police personnel and force multipliers were deployed.
“Nag-deploy kasi tayo ng mga naka-plain clothes para maiwasan natin kung meron mang masasamang balak mahuli natin at kung may mga kriminal jan makita natin kaagad, pero smooth sailing naman dahil sa police visibility natin,” added Baluis./PN
