San Juan reminds residents to observe designated 'basaan zone'

San Juan City urged its residents to adhere to the designated “basaan zone” (dousing zone) for its Wattah! Wattah! Festival on June 24 to ensure orderliness and peace of the celebration.

Mayor Francis Zamora earlier said only festival participants inside the dousing zone, which is between N. Domingo and P. Guevarra streets, will be allowed to engage in the traditional water-splashing activity from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Under City Ordinance No. 14, those who will be caught splashing water outside the designated zone will face a jail term of 10 days and a penalty of P5,000.

The ordinance also prohibits the use of dirty water and any harmful water-throwing materials such as bombs, glass bottles, plastic bags, and similar objects.

Participants are also prohibited from forcibly opening any vehicle, threatening or harming individuals, entering vehicles to throw water, and using high-pressure water sprayers.

San Juan celebrates the Wattah! Wattah! Festival =to honor the Feast of St. John the Baptist, the city's patron saint. Celebrated every June 24, the highlight of the festival is the water dousing, which symbolizes purification, renewal, and the biblical act of Jesus Christ's baptism in the River Jordan, the city government said. —LDF, GMA News