Around 20,000 safety and security personnel will be deployed across Davao City to secure this year’s Kadayawan Festival, with authorities on Monday officially launching their security operations during a send-off ceremony at Camp Captain Domingo E. Leonor on San Pedro Street.
The deployment brings together personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), emergency response units, force multipliers, and other government agencies, who will be stationed at key festival venues and major convergence areas throughout the month-long celebration.
The heightened security preparations come ahead of the festival’s grand opening on August 7 at 6 p.m. at Magsaysay Park, where thousands of residents and visitors are expected to gather.
Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO) Head Angel Sumagaysay said security operations will be guided by intelligence reports to ensure the efficient deployment of personnel and resources.
“Lahat ng activities natin sa Davao City for the whole month is, of course, intelligence-driven, ’no? Para hindi masayang ang resources natin,” Sumagaysay said.
He added that authorities are working toward a zero-crime target during the festival through close coordination among law enforcement agencies and continuous monitoring of activities.
The Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival 2026 will officially open with the Misa Pasasalamat on August 6 at San Pedro Cathedral, followed by the Subang Sinugdanan ug Panagtagbo at the Davao River and the grand opening program at Magsaysay Park on August 7.
This year’s celebration will feature a series of cultural, tourism, and trade activities, including the Floriculture and Agri-Trade Fairs, cultural performances, bazaars, film and arts events, culinary showcases, concerts, and the Hiyas sa Kadayawan pageant.
The festival’s major highlights, the Pamulak ug Indak-Indak sa Kadayawan Street Parade and the Indak-Indak sa Kadayawan Grand Showdown, will culminate the festivities on August 16.
City officials said the large-scale security deployment underscores Davao City’s commitment to providing a safe and secure environment for both residents and visitors as they celebrate one of Mindanao’s biggest and most anticipated cultural festivals.
