BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has approved the third Sunday of October as the permanent schedule of the MassKara Festival highlights.
The proposed ordinance on this hurdled the third and final reading during the SP’s regular session on Wednesday, April 2.
The new measure amended City Ordinance (CO) No. 09-17-820, dated May 24, 2017, known as “An ordinance setting the fourth Sunday of October as the permanent schedule of the MassKara Festival highlights,” according to its author, Councilor Em Ang.
The main reason for the amendment is that the fourth Sunday of October has been annually marked with rains and other weather disruptions, impacting the overall experience of the festival highlights.
“The change in schedule to third weekend of October aims to ensure more stable weather conditions for the safety and comfort of festivalgoers and visitors, as well as the successful performance of the MassKara Festival highlights and activities,” the ordinance added.
Meanwhile, this year’s MassKara Festival will be a bit shorter as its one-week cuisine event dubbed as “MassKara Namit” would be scrapped.
“We will have to do away with that because the city will be hosting the Slow Food Festival by November. Kag para indi na magsulit ang activity nga may ara sa October, dasun liwaton naman sa November, para isa na lang,” said Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.
It was reported that this city will host the first-ever Terra Madre Salone del Gusto Asia and the Pacific by November this year./PN
