BACOLOD City – A total of 3,194 security and emergency personnel were mobilized in the city for the celebration of the 39th MassKara Festival.
A ceremonial sendoff was held at the Bacolod City Government Center on Oct. 22 for the deployment of the “full festival security force.”
The sendoff was conducted days before the three-day festival highlights that began on Oct. 26 and will end today.
The personnel were composed of members of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and Philippine Coast Guard as well as traffic auxiliaries and force multipliers.
Police Regional Office 6 pastoral officer Superintendent Gilbert Ilagan led the blessing of the security and emergency personnel.
Bacolod City Police Office acting director Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo said they want to make this year’s celebration “more peaceful” than last year’s.
In 2017, only 1,587 uniformed personnel were mobilized for MassKara, Ebreo said.
Aside from intensified police visibility operations and enforcement of local ordinances specifically crafted for MassKara – like the ban on deadly weapons and backpacks at festival sites – the festival security scheme also include signal jamming and gun ban.
The gun ban suspends all permits to carry firearms outside of residence. Only police officers and government troops in proper uniform are allowed to carry firearms.
Those who are caught defying the gun ban will be charged for violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
There are still three festival venues this year – the public plaza, the Bacolod City Government Center and the Tourism Strip on Lacson Street./PN
