Dagupan City to celebrate ‘Bangus’ festival after two-year suspension due to pandemic


DAGUPAN CITY – Mayor Marc Brian Lim on Sunday announced the celebration of the Bangus Festival -- one of the biggest and most colorful celebrations of local industry and culture – on April 30 this year.

“Zero cases, alert level 1 status, high vaccination rate, I think it is good to have a bangus festival,” said Lim, visibly ecstatic over the announcement of the annual celebration which was suspended for two years due to the pandemic.

Now, Dagupan folks stand to have a grand time in the celebration which will see the ‘kalutan ed Dalan’ (Ihawan sa Daan) serving as the main highlight on April 30 which could possibly be declared as holiday.

According to Lim, they had asked permission from Malacañang to hold the Bangus Festival and for April 30 to be declared as a holiday.

“Humingi na kami ng abiso sa Malakanyang thru bangus festival and so having April 30 declared as a holiday, traditionally April 30 iyon yun kalutan ed dalan natin,” explained Lim.

Dagupan is known for its tasty ‘bangus’ fish products. The festival here will be held from April 28 to 30 this year. The Bangus Festival will never be complete without the Kalutan ed Dalan which is actually a street party.

Lim said the preparation is short, yet the most important is the Kalutan Ed Dalan will not be held at the De Venecia Expressway which was very unpopular to the Dagupeños.

“We will return the celebration to the downtown area for the people,” stressed Mayor Lim said.