The excitement among the residents of Dagupan and even neighboring towns and cities in Pangasinan grew day by day as the highlight of the Bangus Festival 2022, the “Kalutan ed Dalan” street party draws near.

“Excited na kami kasi two years walang Bangus Festival dahil sa pandemic (We are so excited as there was no Bangus Festival for two years due to the pandemic),” said Hazel Ann de Guzman in an interview Saturday.

Romeo Cordero Jr., a resident, said he misses the event that he and his cousins anticipate every year.

Elviene Gabat of Calasiao town said he is looking forward to watching the bands perform.

Among the national bands that will grace the event along the city’s central business district are This Band, Banda ni Kleggy, Bandang Lapis, I Belong to the Zoo, The Juans, and more.

The Bangus Festival, which is an annual event here was canceled for two consecutive years due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

However, it was pushed through this year as the Covid-19 cases dropped and the city has a high vaccination rate.

Malacañang has declared April 30 as a special non-working holiday here to give way to the city’s Bangus Festival 2022.

In Proclamation No. 1340 posted on Friday, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said this is to celebrate the Bangus Festival upon the request of Mayor Marc Brian Lim.

“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the city of Dagupan be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies subject to the health measures of the National government,” he said.

The city’s Bangus Festival commenced on April 18 and will end on April 30 with the Kalutan Ed Dalan street party.

Some 4,500 kilos of bangus (milkfish) will be grilled on that day while national artists and bands will perform on a stage set up in the central business district of the city.

Lim, in a recent interview, said the activity is not just a celebration but also a thanksgiving to God for helping the city overcome the challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic. (PNA)