• THERESA MAE DULMAN
MassKara Festival organizer Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc. (BGFI) has assured the public that carnival operations will strictly adhere to safety standards, following comprehensive inspections by authorities.
Festival director Rodney Ascalon confirmed Sept. 24 that an interagency team conducted thorough inspections of the rides and equipment behind the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) prior to the carnival opening Sept. 25.
“We made sure of that in our meeting with the interagency team. It’s our promise that prior to the operation of the carnivals, they should be inspected for safety reasons,” Ascalon said.
The inspection team is composed of the City Engineer’s Office, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Bacolod City Police Office.
The carnival site behind the BCGC, which opened to the public Sept. 25, offers free ride-all-you-can access until today for P100 in general admission fee, while children two years old and below, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities enjoy free entrance.
The second carnival venue at Fr. Ferrero Street, near SM City Bacolod and the Pope John Paul II Tower, is also scheduled to undergo similar interagency safety checks before welcoming revelers.
Both carnival sites will operate until Oct. 18. | TMD
