Authorities ramp up security, emergency readiness for MassKara

BACOLOD CITY — In anticipation of big crowds during this year’s MassKara Festival in October, the Interagency Team is intensifying preparations for a safe, orderly and secure celebration.

The team, led by Rica Latergo, is working closely with the Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc. (BGFI), through its board member Hannah Lea Dela Torre, corporate secretary and head of legal affairs.

The preparations include crowd management, traffic control, fire prevention, medical and emergency response, food safety and sanitation, site inspections, and other measures intended to protect festivalgoers, workers, vendors, performers and residents.

In a press briefing at Citadines Bacolod on Friday, the Bacolod Traffic and Transport Management Department (BTTMD) presented the proposed traffic management measures and road closures for selected festival activities.

These proposals remain subject to the final recommendation of the BTTMD and approval of the City Council.

Among the proposed significant dates and traffic adjustments are half-road closures at the public plaza and Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) for food kiosk ingress on Sept. 28 to 30, festival site operations from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. from Oct. 1 to 18, and three major highlight days from Oct. 16 to 18, with proposed operations extending from 3 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Also suggested were a half-road closure from Lizares Street to Araneta Street, with a full road closure along Araneta Street toward the plaza for the Drum and Lyre Competition on Oct. 10; a full road closure along the designated float route, with entry through Lopez Jaena Street and closure from the Burgos Circumferential Road area toward the Francis Street/Stoplight area for the Electric MassKara Float Parade on Oct. 16; and a full road closure from Hernaez Street to Araneta Street, extending from Luzuriaga Street toward the SM South Wing area for the Arena Dance and Street Dance Competitions from Oct. 17 to 18.

Further, the proposal also includes traffic adjustments, including one-way arrangements and roadblocks in coordination with affected schools and barangays in the SM City Bacolod area from Oct. 7 to 14, and a half-road closure to facilitate ingress and operational requirements of tenants and festival activities at the Lacson Tourism Strip from Oct. 12 to 14.

The BGFI stressed that temporary road closures and traffic adjustments are being proposed to accommodate large-scale festival activities and ensure the safety and movement of both participants and the public.

The BGFI is also coordinating with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), BTTMD, City Health Office (CHO), Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO), Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), rescue and volunteer groups, and other local and national government agencies.

“MassKara is a celebration for everyone, and safety must be a shared responsibility,” Latergo said as she urged the full cooperation of the public.

The organizers are calling on residents, commuters, motorists, business establishments, vendors, visitors and festivalgoers to cooperate with authorities, particularly when traffic restrictions and crowd-control measures are implemented.

Festivalgoers are encouraged to observe basic safety measures throughout the celebration.

For emergency response, teams are also being prepared for strategic deployment throughout the festival period.

These will include ambulances, medical teams, rescue personnel, fire responders, police personnel and volunteer emergency response groups.

Regular inspections are also expected beginning Oct. 1, particularly in festival and food concession areas, in coordination with the CHO, BCPO, BENRO and other concerned offices monitoring compliance with health, sanitation, environmental and security requirements.

The BCPO has yet to finalize the number of personnel to be deployed for the celebration and determine whether augmentation will be necessary, especially during the highlight week.

Dela Torre emphasized that the foundation’s role is to ensure that festival operations remain closely coordinated with government agencies and that necessary safety and legal requirements are addressed before major activities.

“MassKara is not only about the events onstage. It is also about making sure that our streets, venues, food establishments, vendors, performers and the public are covered by a coordinated safety plan,” she said.

This year’s festival is in its 47th edition, with the theme “Share The Smile. Celebrate Gugma.”