About 680 members of the Philippine National Police and other security forces are in place to secure the weeklong “Panaad Sa Negros Festival” at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, which kicks off Monday, April 17.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer will lead the 4 p.m. grand opening ceremony to be attended by Negros Occidental representatives and mayors at the Panaad Stadium.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and senators Bong Go and Francis Tolentino will be among the guests at the opening program, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.
The “festival of festivals” from April 17 to 23 is returning after a three-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic with the 31 local governments of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City participating.
The Task Group Pana-ad Festival on Saturday held the ceremonial send-off of troops who will be deployed to secure the weeklong festival, Diaz said.
A seven-day gunban throughout Negros Occidental and Bacolod City will be in place from 12:01 a.m. April 17, to 11:59 p.m. April 23.
This is to ensure that the festival will be free from firearm-related incidents for the safety of the community, as well as of the local and foreign tourists, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said.
The festival will start on Monday with a mass at 8 a.m. to be followed at 9 a.m. with the ribbon cutting ceremonies for the opening of the Best of Negros Products Trade Fair, Food Alley, Livelihood Village (Organic Village), “Bamboo Negrense, Aton Ini” Bamboo Village and PVO Animal Exhibit Area.
There will also be a blessing and inauguration of the Provincial Animal Learning Park and Hospital at the East Road of the Panaad grounds, while at 10 a.m. the simultaneous opening of all themed-pavilions will be held.
There will be a motorcade from the Provincial Capitol to the Panaad Stadium at 3 p.m. Monday for the Panaad sa Negros grand opening ceremony at 4 p.m., Diaz said.
A fireworks display will be held at 7 p.m. to be followed by the Panaad ni Gov Concert featuring December Avenue at the Panaad Stadium at 8:30 p.m., he added.*