Davao City Day in Davao in 2020
Mayor Inday Sara Duterte has announced the cancellation of all events lined up for the 83rd Araw ng Davao celebrations because of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus concerns.
In a press conference, Mayor Inday said that the guideline issued by the Department of Health (DOH), urging people to avoid convergence, is one of the main reasons behind her decision to forego major activities lined up for this year’s Charter Day celebrations.
"We have been following the pronouncements of the DOH and it has released last February 7 the advisory on public gatherings, thus it is with a heavy heart that I have decided to cancel the following events of the 83rd Araw ng Davao celebration: Pasiugdang Pagsaulog, Reyna Dabawenya, Ginoong Davao, Sayaw Pinoy, Kalingawan sa Sta. Ana, Hudyaka, Mutya ng Dabaw, Pasidungog, Araw ng Empleyado, Kanta Bidabawenyo, Parada Dabawenyo, and the Datu Bago Awards," she said.
Despite the cancellation of the events, all public holidays scheduled for 83rd Araw ng Davao will push through.
When is Davao City Day?
Davao City Day is a regional special non-working day in the Philippine metropolitan area of Metro Davao on March 16th each year.
Known also as Charter Day and Araw ng Dabaw, this day marks the anniversary of the city's incorporation, which happened on this day in 1936.
About Davao City Day
On June 29th 1848, the Spanish founded Davao in the Davao Gulf on the island of Mindanao. Davao began to grow and expand during the period of American control.
On March 16th 1936, cityhood was gained when congressman Romualdo Quimpo from Davao filed Bill 609 (passed as Commonwealth Act 51), creating the City of Davao from the town of Davao and the municipal district of Guianga.
The city was occupied by the Japanese during the second world war. After the devastation of the war, the city had to be rebuilt.
Today, Davao City is the third-most populous city in the Philippines after Quezon City and Manila. It is also one of the world's largest cities in terms of land area.
Araw ng Davao is marked by a series of events across the metropolitan area when the citizens celebrate the birthday of this multi-cultural city. The festivities cover a jam-packed, seven-day schedule of trade fairs and cultural presentations. There is also a colourful civic-military parade and a citywide beauty pageant.
