The local government on Friday credited the successful, month-long “Higalaay” Festival to the full deployment of personnel from the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Department (CDRRMD).

During a program of the City Information Office, Jann Guillmore Actub, spokesperson for the City Mayor’s Office, said all CDRRMD personnel, under department head Nick Jabagat, were present at all festival activities, monitoring the rainy weather and other emergencies.

“They were given a directive to be vigilant, and even had to delay some leaves in the office to be present,” he said.

The presence of CDRRMD personnel, who worked in shifts to ensure a 24-hour immediate response mechanism, was also supported by barangay volunteers.

Actub said the success of the annual festivity, especially the culmination ceremony on Thursday, was a result of the collaboration among the local government, civil society, and the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro. (PNA)