KIDAPAWAN CITY – Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin Abalos Sr. urged the people of North Cotabato to work together to maintain peace in the province.
Abalos, guest speaker at the culminating activity of 109th Kalivungan Festival, said he was elated seeing the province's progress compared to the last time he worked in North Cotabato.
He highlighted the importance of peace in achieving progress in the province.
The Mandaluyong mayor cited the provincial government for their efforts in keeping the province peaceful. He said it is through peace that a place can genuinely achieve improvement.
North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza in her remarks said being united and sympathetic with different tribes in the province is the key to achieving progress.
“The strength of the Cotabato province lies in every Cotabateño,” Mendoza said.
She reiterated the significance of the "Serbisyong Totoo" campaign and encouraged the people to enjoy the Kalivungan Festival.
Mendoza also urged the people to be the province's eyes, ears, and heart to enable its leadership to effectively implement programs and projects that align with their genuine service advocacy.
Meanwhile, the provincial capitol sports complex in Barangay Amas here was filled with people on September 1, Friday, celebrating the finale of the 109th Kalivungan Festival.
The festival became vibrant and exciting following the street-dancing competition, which reflected not only the rich culture and tradition of the province but also the extraordinary efforts and unity of the people in pursuit of their desired peace and progress.
Delegates from Kidapawan City and municipalities of Tulunan, Libungan, Carmen, Midsayap, Kabacan, Arakan, and Pikit showed their best in the competition while dressed in lively costumes.
Tulunan emerged victorious, taking home a trophy and a P1 million. Pikit was second, winning P700,000 cash, and this city was third place and took home P500,000. The rest of the field received P100,000 each for participating.
Mendoza congratulated all the winners and non-winners of the street-dancing competition.
She described the festival as a symbol of a gathering of all the tribes in the province and the unity of every family. It is a festivity of the province's abundance and harmony of everyone despite the differences, she said.