By Jeffrey Damicog Bukidnon province has decided to cancel this year’s Kaamulan festival due to the threat posed by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Bukidnon Gov. Jose Ma. Zubiri Jr. announced on Wednesday (Feb. 12) the cancellation of the festival which usually takes place from the middle of February up to March 10. In a memorandum he issued, Zubiri explained that he acted on the advisory issued by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, who urged the public “to avoid attending, participating in, and organizing events that draw a huge number of attendees in view of the ongoing threat of the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus.” He also said the DOH “likewise recommends the cancellation of planned big events or mass gatherings.” “In view thereof, the 2020 Kaamulan Festival is hereby canceled as a proactive measure to keep the people of the province safe from the threat of the highly infectious disease,” the governor said. “All mayors and barangay chairmen are likewise ordered to cancel all public events and mass gatherings that draw huge number of attendees in their respective areas of jurisdiction for the same reason.”