BACOLOD City – A total of 680 uniformed and civilian personnel were deployed at the Panaad Park and Stadium to secure the weeklong Panaad sa Negros Festival 2023 from April 17 to 23.
On Saturday, April 15, Task Group Panaad Festival held a ceremonial send-off of troops at Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr., headquarters of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO).
Stationed at different security sectors and task units, the security personnel consist of police officers from the NOCPPO, Bacolod City Police Office and Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6, Philippine National Police (PNP)-Maritime Group, PNP Explosives Ordnance, Highway Patrol Group, Aviation Security Group, and 6th Special Action Battalion; Philippine Coast Guard-Western Visayas; Bureau of Fire Protection-Negros Occidental; and Bacolod Traffic Authority Office.
Police Colonel Leo Pamitan, NOCPPO director and commander of the Panaad Festival 2023-Site Task Group, thanked the contingents and highlighted the preparedness of the task group to secure the festivity.
With the theme “The promise renewed”, this year’s Panaad sa Negros Festival is the first celebration under the administration of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson after a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Dubbed the “mother of all festivals in Negros Occidental,” it was conceptualized on April 30, 1993 by the provincial government and representatives of the private sector to showcase the festivals of each of the then six cities and 26 municipalities (now 13 cities and 19 municipalities).
Panaad is the Hiligaynon word for “vow” or “promise”, coming from the root word “saad”. The festival is a form of thanksgiving to the Divine Providence and commemoration of a vow in exchange for a good life./PN
