BACOLOD City – Peaceful and successful was how the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) assessed the 16-day staging of the 2023 MassKara Festival.
Colonel Noel Aliño, director of the BCPO, said no major incident directly related to the festival was reported.
Aliño attributed this to the concerted efforts of nearly 3,000 police organic personnel and augmentation forces as well as the city government, volunteers, stakeholders, and the public’s full cooperation.
According to the city police director, among the security and intensified anti-criminality measures were:
* crowd control strategies to ensure the smooth flow of attendees, prevent overcrowding, and mitigate potential risks associated with large gatherings,
* increased police visibility in and around festival venues, as well as key areas throughout the city,
* established security checkpoints at entry and exit points of festival venues to screen individuals, detect prohibited items,
* close collaboration and established communication channels with the local government unit, agencies, festival organizers, and relevant stakeholders to promptly address security concerns or emerging issues, and
* coordination with other emergency response agencies and implementing established protocols and rapid response plans
Just days before the festival highlights, on Oct. 17, the BCPO hauled an estimated P20.5 million worth of shabu in Barangay Singcang-Airport, the biggest single-operation seizure in Western Visayas this year.
The 44th edition of the MassKara Festival started with a countdown on the night of Oct. 6 and ended on Oct. 22, highlighted by the street and arena dance competition.
There were six festival sites: the Lacson Tourism Strip on Lacson Street, the Bacolod City Government Center grounds, SM City, The Upper East-Megaworld, Bacolod Old Airport and the Bacolod City Public Plaza./PN
