CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The provincial government Camiguin has laid out its preparation and security plan to ensure a safe, smooth observance of ‘Panaad sa Camiguin’ during Holy Week set April 2 to April 8.

Camiguin Governor Xavier Jesus Romualdo said lots of pilgrims are expected to visit the island province for the annual ‘Panaad,’ hence the provincial government has coordinated with other law enforcement agencies to fully achieve its goal.

“We actually did our final coordination meeting, and what we are trying to do now is monitor the execution and we are working closely with the LGU (local government unit) of Balingoan,” said Governor Romualdo in mixed English and vernacular in an interview during the launching of Camiguin’s new tourism campaign ‘Camiguin Isle Be There’ on Friday, March 17.

The governor pointed out that their biggest challenge during the observance of holy week is the queueing system at the Port of Balingoan in Misamis Oriental.

However, Romualdo said the Camiguin province, together with the municipal government of Balingoan and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), has devised a new route in the Balingoan Port that could address the concern.

"Hopefully nga mas plastar kay dako naman ang area sa port ug mas daghan na tao ang makasulod (it will be more organized because the port has already widened its area and a lot of people could enter),” he added.

Camiguin will also augment manpower to help the Port of Balingoan.

In a joint meeting on Feb. 16 this year, Camiguin provincial tourism officer Candice Naomi Dael also urged transport groups in the province to have their public utility vehicles (PUVs) available at all ports of entry in Camiguin until the last trip of the shuttle ferry.

Camiguin has also coordinated with the LGUs to provide measures to ensure that PUV drivers, especially in all ports in the province, are not taking advantage of the situation by overcharging the fare rates of the passengers.

All the mayors in Camiguin have also been urged to activate their respective local price coordinating councils to monitor the price of goods in different tourist destinations to avoid any pricing issues.

Camiguin was closed to tourists for two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The province opened its doors for tourists in October 2021, and ‘Panaad’ resumed last year.

According to Dael, the province tallied around 5,000 visitors in last year's holy week, and around 11,000 visitors for the whole month of April.

“Panaad sa Camiguin” is a religious ritual that requires people to walk around the island’s 64-kilometer circumferential road as a form of sacrifice, either in fulfillment of a vow or as penance for sins.