The city government of Dagupan will reactivate a task force to enforce minimum public health standards at the Tondaligan and Pugaro beaches for the upcoming long weekend that also mark’s the annual Bangus Festival.
“People will surely flock to the beaches, so we are going to use the same exact task force who will man the areas for the three-day weekend from April 30 to May 2,” Mayor Marc Brian Lim said.
In Proclamation No. 1133, Malacañang declared April 30 a special non-working day in the city in observance of the annual Bangus Festival.
On May 1, a regular holiday in observance of Labor Day, Pangasinan will also celebrate Pistay Dayat (Sea Festival), a thanksgiving feast for the year’s abundant harvest from the sea.
Traditionally, both events draw large crowds at the beaches not just in Dagupan but on all beaches of Pangasinan.
“A bigger number of beachgoers is expected on holidays.”
“Despite the swimming ban at the Tondaligan Beach still being in effect, it has been observed that bikers, joggers, families, and groups of friends troop to the beach on weekends. A bigger number of beachgoers is expected on holidays,” Lim said.
“The task force includes the Dagupan City police, Public Order and Safety Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, auxiliary forces like the Philippine Navy, and the barangay security forces,” he added.
Pugaro Beach is included in the areas being monitored as this island barangay’s beach is becoming popular especially with the beautiful sunsets of the Lingayen Gulf.
Capitalizing on the newfound popularity, an entrepreneur established a café overlooking the Lingayen Gulf, it’s named Bueracay Beach Café, taken from the word ‘buer’ which means sand in the local language.
It can be reached through a motorboat ride from the Magsaysay Fish Market area at the city proper, or by land via Binmaley town.
Meanwhile, Lim said Dagupeños may celebrate the Bangus Festival 2021 on their own while observing health protocols.
“We asked Malacañang for a special non-working holiday on April 30. A day when the biggest event, the Kalutan ed Dalan, of the month-long Bangus Festival is being held,” he said.
“The city is looking forward to the time when the people can gather again for a safe celebration of the Bangus Festival.”
Lim added that the city is looking forward to the time when the people can gather again for a safe celebration of the Bangus Festival.
“But for now, we are in the middle of the pandemic, so we should be satisfied with at least remembering the essence and importance of Bangus Festival to us Dagupeños and to the economy,” he concluded.