• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Additional police personnel were deployed and an evacuation plan prepared as this year’s MassKara Festival celebration in Bacolod City entered its culminating weekend highlights this Oct. 17-19.
More than 500 police personnel from the Police Regional Office 6 and Siquijor Police Provincial Office comprise the second batch of augmentation force deployed starting Oct. 16, with the much-anticipated electric MassKara, and the street and arena dance competitions, school and barangay categories, happening today, Saturday, and Sunday, respectively.
The 511 additional police personnel, with 300 of them coming from PRO6, are on top of the 1,984 initial batch of PNP, force multipliers, rescue and DRRMO, and traffic personnel, among others, deployed Oct. 1, when the 19-day festival kicked off.
Over at Lacson Tourism Strip where the “Heartonic” MassKara Music Festival will be held, also from Oct. 17-19, an evacuation plan has been drawn up, in case of an unforeseen situation, like an earthquake or flooding.
“We’re ready and have prepared an evacuation plan (considering the tremors felt the past days on in case of flooding),” site director Mark Raymund Garcia said in a press conference Oct. 16. “We coordinated with the police to identify” five evac areas and exit points, each one nearest to a music stage cluster, including along BS Aquino Drive, 17th Street, 13th Street, 7th Street, and Aguinaldo Street.
All should follow the instructions of uniformed marshals or the public safety command post personnel during an evacuation, Garcia added. “Marshals will guide you through safe lanes marked with glow tape and barricades, and re-entry to a music stage or tent should be avoided until safety officials declare it safe.”
To ensure public safety throughout the festivities, the Inter-Agency Department of the Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc. has coordinated closely with the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, local government, and force multipliers, the festival organizer said in a statement. “Security personnel and emergency responders will be stationed across all key locations to manage crowds and maintain a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone.”
“Heartonic” is expected to be a crowd-drawer, with a lineup of about 50 local and national celebrities performing in “a vibrant fusion of music, lights, and digital art.” It brings together top DJs, entertainers, and visual artists in a spectacular showcase that captures the energy and spirit of Bacolod’s world-famous celebration, the organizer said.
Among these celebrities are James Reid, Dionela, Alamat, The Juans, Sandwich, and many more artists ready to light up Bacolod’s nights with powerful performances. “From pop and rock to EDM and live bands, Heartonic promises three days of music, fun, and smiles.”
Another crowd-drawer event is also expected at the Bacolod public plaza, with the much-awaited “Singkara: The Voice of Bacolod” grand finals, starting at 6 p.m. Oct. 17, followed by the live performance of Elias J. TV.
The electric MassKara float competition, to be participated in by 12 barangays, will also be held, starting 6 o’clock tonight, from Megaworld’s The Upper East going to the Bacolod Government Center (BCGC) for a dance showdown, with the floats returning to the Upper East where they will remain on display. | CGC
