BACOLOD City — As the highlights of the MassKara Festival 2025 unfold this weekend, the Bacolod Traffic and Transport Management Department (BTTMD) is appealing to motorists to observe traffic rerouting and road closures in key festival sites across the city.
Atty. Reuben Mikhail Sabig, head of the BTTMD, said heavy traffic congestion is expected during the festival weekend. He urged motorists to avoid passing through festival areas where road closures have been implemented to ensure public safety and smooth traffic flow.
“We appeal to the public to avoid the closed routes as much as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience, but we are doing our best to ease the traffic situation during the festivities,” Sabig said.
Hundreds of traffic enforcers have been deployed across major festival venues to manage vehicular flow, particularly tonight, October 17, when the Electric MassKara kicks off at The Upper East Megaworld, alongside the opening of the Lacson Tourism Strip street party.
According to Sabig, a full road closure will be implemented along Circumferential Road, from the intersection of Burgos Extension to St. Francis Street, between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on October 17 due to the Electric MassKara event.
Meanwhile, from October 17 to 19, the Lacson Tourism Strip will be fully closed from 2 p.m. to 3 a.m., affecting the stretch between B.S. Aquino Drive and Cottage Road along Lacson Street. About 20 traffic enforcers will be stationed in the area to assist motorists and pedestrians.
The Bacolod Gugma Foundation, Inc. (BGFI) expects an estimated 100,000 festivalgoers daily at the Lacson Tourism Strip alone.
Sabig added that two lanes at Lacson Street will remain passable from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 17–19 to accommodate daytime traffic.
Motorists are advised to use the Bacolod–Negros Occidental Economic Highway (BANOCEH) as an alternate route to avoid congestion along the Circumferential Road.
Additionally, a total road closure will be in effect from October 17 to 19, from afternoon until 3 a.m., along Rizal and Gatuslao Streets near the Bacolod Public Plaza.
This year’s festival sites include the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC), public plaza, Lacson Tourism Strip, and The Upper East Megaworld — all expected to draw large crowds for the city’s world-famous MassKara Festival 2025 celebration./PN
