Balilihan town mayor Maria Pureza Chatto denies insinuations that the practice of “bundakay” is prohibited in the town during the yearly celebration of the town fiesta this coming July 15 & 16, 2020.
There have been unfounded insinuations where it was mentioned that Mayor Chatto disallows the traditional “bundakay” where it involves the butchering of livestock or poultry expenses of which are shared shared among group members.
Mayor Chatto clarified the issue in a radio interview on Monday, July 13, 2020 over “Newsmakers ug Uban Pa” hosted by the sister tandem of Ardy Araneta Batoy and Gloria Leodivica Ines Araneta.
The mayor clarified that the practice of “bundakay” is allowed in her Executive Order No. 28 dated June 30, 2020.
The “bundakay” is a practice also known as “hog-hog” where a group of people would contribute a sum of money each month for almost a year, and the proceeds will be used to buy livestock or poultry that will be butchered and shared among the members of the group, Chatto explained in the interview.
There have been insinuations circulating in social media that those who will be engaged in bundakay would be penalized with a fine of P30,000.
“Wala nato na (bundakay) gibawal kay naandan na na sa mga tawo,” Mayor Chatto mentioned in the radio interview.
She added, “Naa gani na sa akong executive order. sa letter “C” sa akong parameters sa executive order no. 28 na nag-ingon ‘practice of bundakay is allowed’ provided that more than 20 people may gather to get their share of food, provided further that social distancing shall be followed at all times.”
She reiterated that butchering of livestock is allowed and it is not true that there would be penalties for butchering livestock, such as pork, beef, and carabao meat including poultry.
Mayor Chatto said that this year’s celebration of the town fiesta in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel will be simple and limited to family members living in the same house.
Visitors from other areas of the town and the province are not allowed, to prevent mass gatherings.
Visitors from other towns are not allowed to enter Balilihan from 12 midnight of July 15, 2020 to 11:59 pm of July 16, 2020, according to the said executive order.
There are quarantine control points that will be manned by the local police augmented by forces from the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) that will
Implement the directives of the executive order, disallowing the entry of visitors from other areas of the province to attend the town fiesta.