President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife, Liza Araneta-Marcos, are not arriving for the MassKara Festival this year, but their sons may come, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said at a press conference on Monday, Oct. 14.
The first couple will not be able to come because of their busy schedules, he said.
However, numerous other national government officials, including senate bets, are expected to arrive for the MassKara, he said.
There will be no signal jamming of cellular phones during the festival, he said.
Benitez said a gun ban is already in effect in Bacolod City until October 27 and the flying of drones at the festival sites will need permits from the city government.
Meanwhile, Benitez said he issued an executive order setting rules to ensure the safety of revelers at the MassKara Festival sites.
Executive Order 054 Series of 2024 adopting the recommendations of the Coordinating Committee for the Security Peace and Order Concerns of the MassKara Festival 2024 states that the selling and drinking of liquor at the festival sites will only be allowed until 3 a.m., Benitez said.
Selling liquor to persons below 18 years of age is strictly prohibited, he also said.
The following are also prohibited inside the festival sites: pointed barbeque sticks and other bladed weapons, backpacks, bottled soft drinks and alcoholic drinks, pranks/jokes that can cause mass panic/stampedes, lighting of firecrackers and littering of garbage.
The mayor said measures are also being adopted to ease the traffic flow in Bacolod City during the festival.
Benitez noted that the hotels in Bacolod are fully booked for the festival.*