BACOLOD City – This city will no longer impose signal jamming during the highlights of this year’s MassKara Festival on October 26 and 27.
The 45th year celebration of the city’s annual festival will officially open on October 12 but a Grand Countdown Salubong to kick off the festival will be held on Friday, October 11, at the Bacolod City Government Center.
In an interview yesterday, October 7, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez confirmed that there will be no signal jamming.
“Waay na signal jamming kay kabudlay,” the city mayor said.
But, he said a gun ban will be implemented.
“Everytime nga may amo ni kadamo nga crowd nagakadto, we want to have that the peace and order,” Mayor Benitez stressed.
Secretary to the Mayor Karol Joseph Chiu said the city mayor had approved the suspension of the permit to carry firearms outside residence and the request was already endorsed to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
Earlier, the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) sent a letter request to Mayor Benitez for the issuance of an executive order enjoining all concerned local agencies/offices an interruption of cellular network signal from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on October 26 during the Electric MassKara Performing Floats Competition at the Upper East – Megaworld and from 12 noon to 9 p.m. on October 27 during the dance and arena competition from Bacolod City Public Plaza to Paglaum Sports Complex.
Meanwhile, Mayor Benitez confirmed that everything is now set for the festival after his meeting with the officers of the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation Inc. (BYFI) yesterday.
Also, as part of the security preparations, Captain Jonito Pastrana, BCPO public information officer, said more than 900 police personnel will augment the city police force.
The BCPO led by Colonel Joeresty Coronica is aiming to sustain what they did during last year’s edition of the MassKara Festival that culminated with no major incident./PN
