The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has approved the request of the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation and the Bacolod City Police Office for a “signal shutdown” during the highlight events of the MassKara Festival celebration on Oct. 23.
“This is customary during big events, especially since we are expecting no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to grace our main event,” festival director, Atty. Pinky Mirano-Ocampo, said.
The Oct. 23 activities include the MassKara street and arena dance competition, and the electric MassKara showdown.
Mirano-Ocampo, also the president of Yuhum Foundation, this year’s festival organizer, clarified that the “signal shutdown” will only be in areas where the President and his family will go, “for security reasons.”
As to the implementation of gun ban during for the festival duration, P/Col. Thomas Joseph Martir, Bacolod City Police Office director, yesterday said he is still waiting for the approval of his request from Camp Crame.
Martir said the gun ban is aimed at preventing crimes using firearms, although those joining the festival’s shootfest activities will be exempted.
Police estimated that 20,000 people attended the salubong countdown at the Bacolod Government Center Sept. 30, despite the drizzle.
The grand salubong started about 7 p.m. Friday, top-billed by musician Rico Blanco and with performances from local and guest performers, and capped off with an 8-minute fireworks display at midnight.
“This is what we have been preparing for, to give you the biggest and grandest MassKara Festival,” Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Benitez told the crowd.
Accompanied by Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya and the city councilors, Benitez enjoined the crowd to “see what we have to offer in the next three weeks. We have prepared a lot of exciting programs and I hope you will enjoy this festival.”
Gasataya dubbed this year’s festival as “super MassKara”.
Now, “the smiles are back in this city,” he added.
Mirano-Ocampo said this is “just a preview of what the people can expect in the succeeding weeks, and we promise to keep the momentum going and make it even grander” during the MassKara highlights on October 21 to 23./GB
