BACOLOD City — The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of Bacolod City is pushing for the suspension or scaling down of barangay fiesta celebrations as part of stricter austerity measures in response to the ongoing global fuel crisis.
Last week, the City Council approved a resolution authored by Councilor and lawyer Caesar Distrito, urging all barangays to suspend, defer, or significantly scale down their traditional fiestas and redirect funds toward essential services.
The initiative comes as surging fuel prices—driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East—continue to strain household budgets and increase the cost of basic goods and transportation.
The impact has been particularly severe on public utility drivers, minimum wage earners, and low-income families, Distrito said.
“While fiestas are an important part of our culture, we must respond to the urgent realities faced by our people,” he added.
The councilor further stressed, “This is a time to prioritize food on the table, support for our drivers, and assistance for vulnerable sectors over non-essential spending.”
Although not an outright legal ban, the resolution strongly urges barangays to forego large-scale celebrations this year and instead reallocate fiesta budgets to urgent social needs.
These include fuel subsidies for public transport workers, financial assistance for indigent families, food distribution, livelihood support programs, and strengthened emergency response initiatives.
The council also encouraged communities to observe more modest, low-cost activities that preserve cultural traditions without placing additional financial burden on local resources.
Distrito underscored that local government units have the mandate to promote the general welfare, particularly during times of economic hardship. He expressed hope that full-scale celebrations could resume once global conditions stabilize.
“Fiestas are not being erased from our traditions,” he clarified. “But given the current crisis, it is more prudent to suspend major celebrations for now and channel those resources to where they are most needed. There will be time to celebrate again when the situation improves.”
The SP is now calling on barangay leaders and residents to support the measure as Bacolod navigates the economic challenges brought about by the fuel crisis./PN
