900 personnel to secure Panaad sa Negros Festival

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Around 900 personnel from various agencies will be deployed to ensure the safety and security of the Panaad sa Negros Festival 2026, with a send-off ceremony scheduled on Saturday at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan here.

The Task Group Panaad Festival 2026, led by the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), includes members of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo), Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), and National Support Units (NSU), with support from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Provincial Health Office (PHO), and the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD).

More than 100 logistical assets will be utilized, including patrol vehicles, motorcycles, handheld and base radios, and transport trucks, to improve mobility, communication, and overall coordination throughout the festival.

The deployment follows a comprehensive security plan anchored on intelligence-driven operations, increased police visibility, and close coordination with local government units, partner agencies, and force multipliers, authorities said.

Police Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, PRO-NIR director, urged the public to remain alert and cooperate with authorities by following security protocols, emphasizing that safety is a shared responsibility to ensure a peaceful and successful celebration.

In accordance with a directive from the chief of the Philippine National Police, all permits to carry firearms outside of residence will be suspended within Bacolod City from 12:01 a.m. April 13 until 11:59 p.m. April 19, covering the full duration of the festival.

During this period, only members of the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other law enforcement agencies performing official duties and wearing agency-prescribed uniforms will be authorized to carry firearms.

The PRO-NIR said the preventive measure is aimed at ensuring public safety, deterring potential threats, and maintaining a secure environment for everyone attending the festival.

The PRO-NIR will conduct intensified security measures, including checkpoints and mobile patrols, to ensure smooth implementation of the firearms suspension throughout the city.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, along with the Emergency Operations Center, has been placed on blue alert status from April 10 to 20, signaling heightened readiness and continuous monitoring during the event.

Although the provincial government officially launched the festival on March 13, its formal opening will take place on April 13.

Known as the “Festival of All Festivals,” the Panaad sa Negros Festival highlights the culture, traditions, and unity of Negrenses, with participation from all 32 cities and municipalities of Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City.

This year marks its 30th edition with the theme “30 Years of Bringing Negrenses Together.”