BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) is contemplating amendments to the schedule of the city’s famed MassKara Festival, aiming to avoid the consistent bad weather that has marred the event’s main festivities in recent years.
City Ordinance No. 33 designated the MassKara Festival as a permanent annual event, traditionally held on the fourth Sunday of October.
However, Councilor Jason Villarosa, who leads the SP committee on tourism, revealed plans to potentially move the festival’s highlight to the second or third week of October. This proposal comes after observing three consecutive years of heavy rainfall during the festival’s peak week.
Villarosa noted that a thorough study will be conducted to determine the most suitable week for the festival highlights. He intends to propose the necessary amendments to the city council after this year’s festival, which concludes on October 27.
Despite the proposed date change, the festival will continue to start on October 1 each year, ensuring that the month-long celebrations remain unaffected by adverse weather conditions.
The call for change has been supported by kiosk owners at the festival sites, who have reported decreased income due to heavy rains that began on the night of October 20 this year, exacerbated by Tropical Storm Kristine. The adverse weather led to flooding in several areas of the city, prompting evacuations in barangays Sum-ag and Pahanocoy.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office has implemented preventive evacuations and reported several incidents of damage, including uprooted trees. There have been no injuries or fatalities reported due to the weather conditions.
The city also suspended face-to-face classes in all schools, from pre-elementary to senior high, since Monday./PN
