The Provincial Government of Zambales has removed several fuel-intensive events from this year’s Dinamulag Festival in line with the national government’s energy conservation measures.

Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said the province scrapped activities that could violate Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Memorandum Circular No. 114, which directs government units to adopt strict energy-saving practices.

Among the events cancelled are motorized races and the float parade, which have long been popular highlights of the annual mango festival.

According to the Zambales Tourism and Investment Promotion Office, five activities were removed from the original schedule: the Motocross Challenge and 4×4 Offroad Challenge, both previously set for April 9 and 10; the Car Motor and Trike Show on April 9; the Zamba-Liwanag Float Parade and Competition on April 9; and the fireworks display following the parade.

Tourism manager Tel Mora also said the festival schedule has been shortened from four days to three in support of the government’s energy conservation push.

Despite the changes, organizers said the revised program will still offer a variety of activities when the festival runs from April 10 to 12. Scheduled events include a fun run, mango cooking challenge, the 3rd Governor’s Cup Shootfest and Firearms Exhibit, drum and lyre competition, mountain bike race, airsoft competition, mango industry training, talent competitions, and a float design contest that will replace the traditional float parade.

Several mango-focused activities are also lined up to promote the province’s world-renowned Carabao mango, including the Dinamulag Cooking Vlog Challenge, Zambales Tourism Vlog Challenge, Mango Eating Challenge, and the Pinaka-Kamanggahan Contest, which will award prizes for the sweetest mango, the biggest mango, and the mango tree bearing the most fruits.

Pre-festival activities will begin with auditions for the Zamba-Tuklas Talento at SM City Olongapo Central on March 14, followed by screenings at the San Felipe Public Mall on March 21 and Balin Sambali in Iba on March 22.