BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) is holding a special session at 10 a.m. today upon the request of Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez in relation to the MassKara Festival this October.
According to Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Benitez is seeking a resolution for the festival traffic management plan, and an authority to sign a memorandum of agreement granting subsidy to the participating barangays in the festival’s competitions.
The SP’s regular session, scheduled for yesterday, Sept. 28, was postponed to Sept. 30.
Meanwhile, Police Major Junji Liba, head of the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO), said his office previously submitted the proposed traffic rerouting scheme and road closures to Benitez, but it this is yet to be approved.
The proposal was endorsed by the city mayor to the SP for the passage of a resolution.
But no resolution was passed because Councilor Al Victor Espino, chair of the committee on traffic, will first hold a public hearing on the matter, Liba said.
He hopes that by today, the SP will approve it during their special session.
Liba further said that the areas affected by the proposed road closures on Oct. 1 to 23 (around Bacolod City Public Plaza areas) from 3 p.m. to 5 a.m. are the following:
* Araneta Street – Luzuriaga Street to Gonzaga Street
* Rizal Street – from Gatuslao Street to San Juan Street
* San Juan Street – from Rizal Street to Luzuriaga Street
* Gatuslao Street – from Luzuriaga Street to Rizal Street
All northbound vehicles from Lacson Street will turn left to Cottage, turn to Gatuslao Street, right turn to North Capitol Road, right turn to B.S. Aquino Drive, left turn to Lacson Street, going to the point of destination.
All southbound vehicles from Lacson Street will turn right to B.S. Aquino Drive, left turn to Gatuslao Street, to the point of destination.
Also, from Oct. 21 to 23 for the Lacson Street Party road closures begin at 3 p.m. and ends at 5 a.m.
On Oct. 22 for the Electric MassKara parade, the road closure is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the Circumferential Road from Burgos Street to Francis Avenue; and on Upper East from Lopez Jaena Street to Circumferential Road.
For the MassKara Street Dance competition on Oct. 23, road closures start at 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and the affected areas are the following:
* Galo Street – from Lacson Street to Gatuslao v
* Rizal Street – from Lacson v to San Juan Street
* Locsin Street – from Burgos Street to Gonzaga Street
* Gatuslao Street – from Rizal Street to Gonzaga Street
* San Juan Street – from Rizal Street to Luzuriaga Street
* Araneta Street – from Gonzaga Street to Lizarez Street
Liba emphasized that once there are road closures, rerouting will follow.
He said that these are for safety and smooth traffic flow on roads, and to reduce the anticipated traffic congestion and coordinate traffic transit operations during the 23-day celebration of the MassKara Festival 2022./PN
