DAVAO CITY – The provincial government of Cotabato has opted to exclude the beauty pageant contests and the street dancing competition in this year’s iteration of Kalivungan Festival as part of its continuing austerity and fiscal responsibility measures.

Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza said the decision to streamline the festivities allows the provincial government to allocate resources for programs and interventions that directly respond to the needs of its constituents.

“This includes our preparations for the anticipated El Niño period from October to February, particularly the planned procurement of rice as part of the Province’s food security and disaster mitigation measures,” Mendoza emphasized in a statement.

It can be recalled that the provincial government has recently strengthened its preparation for the possible impact of the El Niño phenomenon.

The provincial government has recently released a report from the risk mapping of Project SARAI (Smarter Approaches to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry in the Philippines) of the Department of Science and Technology, stating that the province will experience a mild drought this August.

This has prompted Mendoza to impose measures to save water and explore other possible water sources to prepare for the adverse impact of the dry spell.

Even with the exclusion of these major events, the governor assured that the annual Kalivungan Festival this year will remain meaningful, vibrant, and focused on activities that celebrate its people, culture, economy, and identity as Cotabateños.

Kalivungan Festival is an annual week-long celebration, which culminates in the founding anniversary of the province of Cotabato on September 1.

According to local history, the word Kalivungan comes from the local tribe of Erumanen Ne Menuvu term, which means a "gathering of people.”

One of the retained traditional activities is the Kavurunun Festival as it highlights the diverse culture, rituals, and practices of different indigenous peoples’ tribes and their role in shaping the history of Cotabato Province.

Kavurunan Festival features several cultural presentations such as traditional ritual performances, ethnic instrument playing, indigenous games and tribal dances.

The activity brings together members and leaders from indigenous groups like the Erumanen Ne Menuvu, Manobo, Tagabawa, Blaan, Obo Manobo, Teduray, and Ilianen.

Moreover, other activities of the Kalivungan Festival are Yaman ng Cotabato Travel and Trade Expo, Kapagana Festival, Museyo Kutawato Fest, sports events, job fair, awards day, drum and lyre competition, and Kumbira sa Kapitolyo.