By Philippine News Agency The local chief executive of this province has signed Executive Order No. 10 declaring January 27, 2017 a special non-working day to ensure full participation of all Isebeleños in the celebration of the Bambanti Festival. Gov. Faustino G. Dy III said in his order that it is the policy of the State to ensure that Filipino heritage and culture are cultivated and promoted and Isabela has a well established tradition of celebrating the annual Bambanti Festival as demonstration of Thanksgiving for the Isabeleños consistently rich agricultural harvest and to celebrate the diligence, resilience, and vigilance that characterize the farmer and established Isabela as the country’s Number One corn producer and biggest rice surplus producer. He said for the year 2017, the Provincial Government of Isabela is organizing the Bambanti Festival celebration from the 23rd to the 28th of January 2017 and various activities are lined up to be conducted during the duration of the festival. “It is the intent of the Provincial Government to afford Isabeleño families the opportunity to get together during the celebration of Bambanti Festival and create family environments that breed culture-minded youth and promote the cultivation and promotion of the local culture among members of the present and future generations,” Dy said in his order. He said the Bambanti festival is a yearly undertaking of the provincial government to encourage Isabeleños to participate in or witness the many cultural and trade activities conducted during the festival, and help the local governments in creating national awareness about the Bambanti Festival in the province of Isabela. With the following premises, Dy has declared January 27, 2017 as special non-working day in the whole province to ensure full public participation in the celebration of the 2017 Bambanti Festival. Meanwhile, the city government of Santiago has issued a Memorandum Order 2017 – 005 declaringJanuary 27, 2017 a special non-working day in support to Executive Order No. 10 of Gov. Faustino G. Dy III to ensure full participation in the celebration of 2017 Bambanti Festival.