At least 1,859 joint security personnel are being deployed to secure the 45th MassKara Festival, which will kick off with a “Grand Salubong” at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) Friday night, Oct. 11.
They will secure the four festival sites from Oct. 12 to 27, Col. Joeresty Coronica, Bacolod police director, said at the send-off rites at the Bacolod City Police Office headquarters Thursday afternoon.
They are aiming for “zero crime” during the festival, he said.
The four festival sites will be at the BCGC grounds, Bacolod City Public Plaza, The Upper East, and Lacson Street.
The security forces include 1,199 policemen and 330 personnel from other law enforcement agencies, such as the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine Army.
Also part of the contingent are 230 force multipliers and 100 personnel of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and rescue groups.
They will be backed with 57 mobile patrol cars, 51 motorcycles, three fire trucks, one man truck, 90 civil disturbance management equipment, and 320 hand-held radios.
Police Regional Office 6 Director, BGen. Jack Wanky, reminded his forces that the celebration is no ordinary festival, as they play a pivotal role in ensuring public safety.
Twenty-five percent of the augmentation forces were deployed during a send-off ceremony on Thursday, with the remaining personnel scheduled to arrive on October 21.
Wanky said that a request for a gun ban in Bacolod City from October 11 to 28 has been submitted.
PRO-6 has also requested an executive order to ban drone flying at festival sites during this year’s MassKara Festival, except for those operated by the PNP and the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation.
The kick-off will begin with a “MassKara Grand Salubong” festival motorcade, followed by an opening program and performance from a local band and December Avenue during the “MassKara Music Festival” at the BCGC grounds.
It will be capped by a fireworks display and an after-party with local DJs.
The two-week festivities will be highlighted by the Miss Bacolod MassKara with its coronation night on Oct. 19, sports activities at the “MassKaraLympics”, “MassKaNamit” Food Festival, MassKarade Ball, MassKara Elektroika Diva, and Street Dance and Arena Competition on Oct. 27 at the Paglaum Grandstand.*