BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The business community here is excited. The MassKara Festival is returning this October after a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus disease pandemic.
Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) chief executive officer Frank Carbon said the festival would serve well the business community; money would be circulating once again.
He expressed hope that the city would keep its current “Alert Level 1” pandemic status – which is less restrictive – because an escalation of it would again restrict economic activities.
Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said the city government is targeting to attract over 200,000 visitors during the MassKara festivities.
The city government plans to make this year’s MassKara the grandest yet.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio would grace this year’s festival, said Benitez.
During the 2016, 2017 and 2018 MassKara festivals, then President Rodrigo Duterte visited Bacolod City.
With limited funds from the city government, Benitez is tapping corporate sponsors to support the staging of this year’s festivity.
“As of now (we need) tens of millions. With the plans that we have, it will probably be one of the most expensive MassKara festivals. I’ve been calling some of our friends in the corporate world who can help. So far, we have received positive responses,” he said./PN
