BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) urged the Department of Public Services (DPS) to place adequate garbage bins and portalets in different venues of the MassKara Festival from Oct. 1 to 23.
A resolution passed by the SP stressed the importance of minimizing littering and instilling cleanliness and discipline among the citizenry.
The proponent of the resolution, Councilor Claudio Jesus Puentevella, said the MassKara Festival attracts thousands of people who throw indiscriminately their garbage during street parties.
“There is a need to place portalets in some significant portions of the celebrations,” said Puentevella, chair of the SP committee on environment and ecology.
He also explained that the installation of portalets and garbage bins will prevent the proliferation of disease vectors, pests and the spread of other infectious diseases that may jeopardize the health of the general public.
All systems go for MassKara Festival
Meanwhile, “it’s all systems go for the MassKara Festival,” said festival director Pinky Ocampo of the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation Inc. (BYFI).
Everything is set for the launch of the three-week long festival, which will commence with the MassKara Kick-off Salubong tomorrow, Sept. 30, at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC).
To open the festivities, Bacolod is bringing in music icon Rico Blanco to take the center stage during the kick-off salubong, along with other surprise guests.
Rodney Ascalon, stage director of the event, said the show will start at 4 p.m. with lots of entertainment, leading to a countdown by midnight with a fireworks display to signal the start of the MassKara Festival.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and the city councilors are expected to join in the countdown.
Ocampo said that they have also coordinated with the Bacolod City Police Office, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office and the military, along with other local enforcers, to ensure the safety and security of all revelers.
“We have started to set up the food and exhibit stalls in both the BCGC and the Bacolod Public Plaza, and we are expecting locals and visitors to patronize what we have to offer them,” she said.
She also reminded the public that “we are still in the pandemic and we encourage everyone to take heed of protocols,” with the use of facemasks at the very least in enclosed spaces and very crowded places./PN
