MUCH ADO ABOUT BBQ: Mayor to look into ‘overpriced’ chicken barbecue in festival booths

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said he will look into complaints that chicken barbecue is “very expensively” sold in the MassKara Festival booths particularly those located at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds.

“We will into it,” the mayor told reporters in a press conference Monday.

Chicken barbecue or inasal is reportedly being sold at P180 per piece but it is not clear if this includes unlimited rice.

Benitez said Bacolod City is known for its chicken inasal and it is one food come-on for the city.

He said that he would personally visit the food stalls at the BCGC grounds and check on the issue.

A piece of chicken thigh or breast inasal usually costs P80 without rice.

Benitez said food kiosk owners might be taking advantage of the MassKara celebration.

He appealed to food kiosk owners not to do this because he would rather want that people go to the city for the MassKara festival where the food is “barato kag manamit (affordable and delicious).”

Benitez also pointed out that so far there is no food price ceiling for those who rented kiosks for the festivities.

“It could be included in next year’s contract but for this MassKara season there is no price ceiling on food and drinks,” Benitez said, adding that all he can do is appeal to the sellers not to overprice the food.

He said the rent for this year’s MassKara kiosks was even reduced.

A total of 317 food kiosks were sold with 145 occupying the Bacolod Public Plaza and 99 at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) site. They started operating on October 7 with another 73 at the Lacson Tourism Strip on October 19-22.