An understanding agreement signed by the provincial government of Palawan and the Palawan Tourism Council (PTC) is expected to guide the planning and implementation of Baragatan this year after concerns were raised over previous editions of the festival.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU), signed on February 10 by Governor Amy Alvarez and PTC President Rix Rafols, outlines the roles of both parties in organizing Baragatan Festival 2026.
Under the agreement, the provincial government retains policy direction, overall authority, and approval of official programs, messaging, venues, and public safety measures, while the tourism council is tasked with technical support, private-sector coordination, sponsorship mobilization, and execution support through its designated committees.
Alvarez said the reset was driven by long-standing problems in past Baragatan celebrations, particularly in procurement, solicitations, and the use of funds.
She said there were instances of undeclared solicitations and spending practices that did not translate into visible results.
“The pondo last time I think was around ₱50 million, I think, per year. And I think, according to them, they supplemented around another ₱25 million to make the last Baragatan ₱75 million. Did it feel like ₱75 million to you? I don’t know,” Alvarez said.
“We found out there’s a lot of solicitations that were not declared and were just pocketed. Hindi lang maliit na ₱1,000. I mean all the way up to ₱1,000,000,” she said.
Alvarez stressed that the new setup is meant to establish clear checks and balances and ensure that funds intended for Baragatan directly benefit Palawan residents and participating local governments.
For 2026, the confirmed Baragatan budget has been set at ₱50 million. Alvarez said the lower allocation is intended to show that proper planning and strict controls can deliver a meaningful festival without a larger budget.
“My goal is not to make it the best Baragatan ever, but it’s to really show the people that I want it to be fun. I want it to be enjoyable. I want it to be memorable,” she said.
“With ₱50 million, kaya natin magkaroon ng maganda at masayang Baragatan,” she said.
Based on the understanding agree,emt, the PTC will act as the exclusive conduit for private-sector sponsorships, with all financial support to be deposited in a dedicated account, supported by full documentation, liquidation reports, and audit access.
Sponsorship proceeds are classified as trust funds and cannot be commingled with the council’s general funds.
Rafols said the council’s role goes beyond event execution and includes fund stewardship and transparency mechanisms.
“Ang PTC po naririto hindi lang para mag-execute ng event but also to manage the funds,” Rafols pointed out.
“We have treasurer, auditor, and a lot of officers for check and balance,” he added.
He said Baragatan will remain rooted in culture and heritage while being developed as a tourism event with long-term branding and marketing goals.
“We’re not going to be the next Sinulog, but we will be the Baragatan,” Raffles said.
Festival director Kareeza Faith Atrero, also known as Tita Kim, said the agreement clearly defines responsibilities to avoid fragmentation and confusion in festival operations.
She said Baragatan 2026 will introduce new events while retaining major cultural competitions, with the festival also serving as the province’s entry point into event tourism.
“Kaya po nandito ang Palawan Tourism Council to make sure that every centavo that we have for Baragatan ay mapupunta po para sa mga Palaweño,” Atrero said.
“This Baragatan will not just be a celebration of culture this time, but this will also mark a beginning of event tourism in Palawan,” Atrero said.
The MOU also establishes the Festival Secretariat as the central routing and approval authority, requiring all media drafts, sponsorship proposals, and official communications to pass through it for logging, review, and clearance before public release.
The provincial government retains the right of first broadcast for official festival materials.
Officials clarified that Baragatan committees will continue to be jointly composed of representatives from the provincial government and the Palawan Tourism Council, operating under an Executive Board created through an earlier executive order.
“This is a collaboration,” Atrero said.
“Hindi po ito work alone ng PTC,” she added.
Baragatan Festival 2026 is tentatively scheduled for June, with activities planned across multiple venues in Puerto Princesa City.
Discussions are ongoing to expand festival areas to accommodate more participants, MSMEs, and events.
Alvarez said the new structure is intended to restore public trust in the province’s biggest annual festival.
“I just want to make sure that all the funds are spent properly and to maximize the funds available for this event,” she said.
