• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Sangguniang Panlungsod has required the Bacolod Tourism Office to submit a report within 60 days after every festival in the highly-urbanized city, to determine the economic and cultural impact.
Such post-festival reports allow for the evaluation of safety protocols, like crowd control, emergency preparedness and response, for better security policies, the resolution, authored by Councilor Em Ang and approved by the SP May 13, stressed.
A post-festival report will also evaluate the efficiency, financial management, economic impact, and safety of a public event to guide future policy, regulation, or budget allocation, it added.
Co-authored by Councilor Jason Villarosa, the resolution states that festivals are a significant contributor to Bacolod’s tourism industry and local economy, and findings from festival reports “act as a roadmap for developing or amending ordinances and making legislative decisions”.
Festivals in Bacolod include the world-renowned MassKara Festival in October, the Bacolaodiat Festival, Rum Festival, Bacolod Film Festival, and the Chicken Inasal Festival this May 29-31. | CGC
