BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) is eyeing the deployment of about 898 augmentation personnel from the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) to help secure the MassKara Festival 2025 this October.
The additional forces will supplement the 809 police personnel of BCPO, according to BCPO director Colonel Joeresty Coronica. He noted that this year’s request is slightly lower compared to last year’s augmentation, which exceeded 900 personnel.
When asked during a press conference on September 3 if the proposed number is sufficient, Coronica expressed confidence.
“Yes, in fact last year we saw that the deployment was effective even with almost the same number of personnel. What matters most is not the quantity of police but their efficiency in performing their duties,” he said.
Coronica stressed the importance of strong supervision to ensure officers function well and maintain visibility at their posts.
As of press time, BCPO was still waiting for confirmation if the request will be granted, considering this will be the first MassKara Festival under the newly established NIR, which includes Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.
Aside from police personnel, Coronica said force multipliers will also be tapped. A local university has already pledged assistance by deploying students to help during festival activities.
The city director also appealed for public cooperation, particularly from kiosk owners, to comply with security measures. Strict inspections will be implemented in festival sites, and chicken grill vendors will be required to cut the pointed ends of their barbecue sticks before selling in the area.
Meanwhile, the Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc. (BGFI) announced that starting Tuesday night until Friday, they will slowly unveil the official logo for MassKara Festival 2025.
“This year’s unveiling is more than just a glimpse of a design — it is an invitation to look deeper into the details that embody our story as a People, as a City, and as Ambassadors of what is celebrated as one of the happiest fiestas in the Philippines, if not the world,” the BGFI stated.
The Chapter 1 of unveiling tells the story of KABUHI: Celebrating Culture and Arts, which pays tribute to the resilience and creativity of Bacolodnons since the festival’s birth in 1980.
According to BGFI, KABUHI embodies the artistic spirit of the City of Smiles through five core elements:
* Film – Showcasing Bacolod’s storytelling and cultural preservation through documentaries and local productions.
* Visual Arts – Expressed in masks, costumes, floats, and murals, symbolizing the transformation of hardships into beauty.
* Music – The festival’s heartbeat, reflecting unity, joy, and resilience.
* The First MassKara Logo – Designed in 1980 by the late artist Eli Santiago, symbolizing the city’s ability to smile in the face of crisis.
* San Sebastian Cathedral – A reminder of Bacolod’s history, culture, and faith.
“These elements form KABUHI, a tribute to Bacolod’s vibrant heritage and creative soul. In the City of Smiles, life itself is art,” BGFI said./PN
