Guv hails Panaad Festival success amid sales dip

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Despite a decrease in revenue, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson of Negros Occidental declared the 28th Panaad sa Negros Festival, themed “Living the Promise,” a success. The festival took place at Panaad Park and Stadium from April 15-21, 2024.

On Monday, Lacson highlighted the aspects he believed made this year’s festival a triumph.

“The Festival Dance competition, Lin-ay sang Negros pageant, and the Pop Dance competition were all filled to the rafters,” he told reporters.

Lacson acknowledged that while concerts drew smaller crowds, the festival stayed within budget.

He noted the Lin-ay sang Negros pageant on April 19 attracted 1.2 million online viewers.

“So it’s not only the grandstand that was filled, the bleachers as well,” he said.

However, the governor mentioned a downturn in sales at the festival’s pavilions.

Reports indicated total sales reached P19 million, a P4.4 million decrease from last year’s P23 million.

Lacson attributed this drop to reduced spending power, particularly of the middle class, rather than the heat, saying, “People can adjust their timing for festival attendance.”

He observed that attendees, especially the youth, were spending less.

“But overall, it was a success. We received many congratulatory messages, and I aim to make Panaad even better,” he said.

In terms of safety, the governor reported no significant incidents and commended the effectiveness of security and crowd management at the grandstand, remarking a notable improvement over previous festivals.