Security, safety during Oct. 1 to 19 MassKara Festival beefed up, road closures proposed

At least 300 personnel of Police Regional Office-Western Visayas (PRO-6) will augment the forces of Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) in securing the 46th MassKara Festival from Oct. 1 to 19.

Col. Joeresty Coronica, director of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said a total of 1,819 police personnel will be deployed during the almost three-week festival, of which about 700 are from BCPO.

Police personnel from Panay will be part of the 900 augmentations from other Philippine National Police units, with the remaining 600 coming from the Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor Police Provincial Offices (PPOs).

“This is the first time we are celebrating the MassKara that BCPO is under PRO-NIR. Since there is not enough personnel to augment the BCPO from the PPOs in Negros Island Region, the PRO-NIR requested augmentation personnel from PRO-6,” Coronica said.

The highlights of the MassKara Festival from Oct. 17 to 19 will coincide with the initial part of Negros Oriental’s Buglasan Festival in Dumaguete City, slated from Oct. 16 to 26, which also needs more police security.

Coronica said that in return, the PRO-NIR will also deploy additional security personnel during the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City in January next year.

AJ Marquez, inter-agency department head of festival organizer Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc., said they are requesting the City Council for the approval of road closures for the duration of the festival, following careful planning with law enforcement and emergency partners.

“The proposed road closures are intended to ensure smooth traffic management, proper emergency access, and the safety of thousands of festival-goers expected to attend this year’s celebration,” he added.

The road closures will cover the Bacolod Public Plaza, Bacolod City Government Center, Lacson Tourism Strip between 3rd and 22nd Streets, Circumferential Road, and the route from Paglaum Sports Complex to Bacolod Public Plaza.

Organizers tout the 2025 edition of the MassKara Festival, one of the country’s most colorful and vibrant festivals, as “the most community-driven and people-centered edition yet.”

This year’s festival will highlight sectoral events, including special programs honoring persons with disabilities, market vendors, tricycle drivers, senior citizens, and grassroots singers and dancers.* (Nanette Guadalquiver / PNA)