• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
It’s all systems go for the 30th Panaad sa Negros Festival on April 13 to 19.
“We are now more than prepared,” Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said.
On Tuesday, April 7, Diaz presided the meeting of Panaad sa Negros executive committee members and coordinators as well as security personnel at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City.
Gun ban will also be imposed during the duration of the festival as he assured the safety of visitors.
The Bacolod City Police Office is deploying about 180 police officers, who will be augmented by 60 personnel from the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, aside from intelligence operatives and force multipliers tasked to help ensure the smooth flow of traffic.
“With favorable comments on the smooth flow of traffic at the Panaad Park last year, we intend to keep that, even further improve it,” Diaz said.
He stressed that even in the face of adversities, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson feels that the whole province deserves to celebrate the Panaad sa Negros together.
The provincial government has extended financial assistance to the participating local government units as well as to their respective Lin-ay sang Negros candidates.
While they did not increase the rental of Panaad kiosks, Diaz said he is requesting that goods and products being sold will be at reasonable prices.
Senator Juan Victor Ejercito and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, national president of the League of Cities of the Philippines, will attend the week-long festival. | GB
