‘Panaad’ ‘Panaad’

By Franck Dick Rosete Correspondent

THE security and smooth welcome of the pilgrims have been the top priorities of the provincial government of Camiguin in the upcoming observance of “Holy Week” from April 2 to April 8 this year.

With this, the provincial government has already laid out its preparation and security plan in collaboration with the law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety and smooth observance of the holiday as many pilgrims would normally visit the island during Lent to join the “Panaad sa Camiguin.”

“We actually did our final coordination meeting, and what we are trying to do now is monitor the execution; and we are working closely with the LGU (local government unit) of Balingoan,” said Gov. Xavier Jesus Romualdo in mixed English and vernacular, in an interview after the Camiguin’s new tourism brand name launch Friday, March 17.

The governor pointed out that their biggest challenge during the observance of holy week was the queueing system at the Port of Balingoan in Misamis Oriental.

However, Romualdo said the Camiguin province, together with the municipal government of Balingoan and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), has devised a new route in the Balingoan Port that could bring changes to the queueing system.

“Hopefully nga mas plastar kay dako naman ang area sa port ug mas daghan na tao ang maka- sulod (it will be more organized because the port has already widened its area and a lot of people could enter),” he added.

The provincial government of Camiguin will also augment manpower to help the Port of Balingoan.

In a joint meeting on February 16 this year, Camiguin provincial tourism officer Candice Naomi Dael also urged transport groups in the province to have their public utility vehicles (PUVs) available at all ports of entry in Camiguin until the last trip of the shuttle ferry.

The provincial government has also coordinated with the LGUs to provide measures to ensure that PUV drivers, especially in all ports in the province, are not taking advantage of the situation by overcharging the fare rates of the passengers.

All the mayors in Camiguin have also been urged to activate their respective local price coordinating councils to monitor the price of goods in different tourist destinations to avoid any pricing issues.

Camiguin was closed to tourists for two years because of the

Covid-19 pandemic.

The province opened its doors for tourists in October 2021, and the resumption of “Panaad” was last year, in 2022.

According to Dael, the province tallied around 5,000 visitors in last year's holy week, and around 11,000 visitors for the whole month of April.

“Panaad sa Camiguin” is a religious ritual that requires people to walk around the island’s 64-kilometer circumferential road as a form of sacrifice, either in fulfillment of a vow or as penance for sins. (MT)