BACOLOD City – The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Noppo) announced that there will be an 11-day gun ban during the 25th Panaad sa Negros Festival next month.
The suspension of all permits to carry firearms outside of residence will take effect in Barangay Mansilingan in this capital city, where the Panaad Park and Stadium is located – the site of the annual festival.
This year, the nine-day festival will run from April 14 to 22, but the gun ban will already be enforced starting April 12, or two days before celebrations start.
Noppo said only members of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement agencies who are performing official duties in proper agency-prescribed uniforms will be allowed to carry firearms during the festival.
“This is part of the security preparation to ensure that the festival would be free from firearm-related incidents and safe for the populace as well as local and foreign tourists,” Noppo added.
The festival, now on its silver anniversary, is themed “Panaad @ 25: The Promise Fulfilled.”
Dubbed as the “festival of all festivals,” Panaad sa Negros is participated by all 19 towns and 13 cities in the province.
The festival has received various recognitions, including the Pearl Awards Hall of Fame in October 2017, which it got after bagging the Best Tourism Event Award for provincial festival category for three straight years.
Ma. Lina Sanogal, provincial planning and development officer and festival executive director, said the recognition will further bring more tourists to Negros Occidental. (With PNA/PN)
