BACOLOD City – This city is celebrating today its 86th Charter Day with the theme “Pagsaulog sang Pagbag-o para sa Masanyogon nga Asenso.”
The “Bacolod City Charter Day” commemorates the signing and approval of Commonwealth Act No. 326, creating the City of Bacolod by then President Manuel L. Quezon.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte officially signed Republic Act (RA) No. 11146 declaring June 18 of every year a special nonworking holiday in Bacolod.
A civic-military parade will open today’s celebration. With this, the city government advised commuters to brace for traffic congestion in parts of the city this morning.
The Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) said motorists should avoid passing the following parade routes from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.:
* Alangilan route – from Barangay Alangilan, Burgos Avenue; right turn to Escala; left turn to C.L. Montilebano; left turn to Circumferential Road; and end at Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC),where they will converge.
* Mansilingan route (in front of Coca Cola Plant) – straight ahead Along Alijis Road; right turn to Hernaez; right turn to Circumferential Road; and end at BCGC.
* Sum-ag route (Economic Highway) – Araneta, right turn to Lizares; left turn to Hernaez; right turn to Lopez Jaena; right turn to Upper East; right turn to Circumferential Road; and end at BCGC
* Bata route (Mormons) – left turn to Lacson Street; right turn to North Capitol Road; left turn to Gatuslao; right turn to South Capitol Road; left turn to San Juan; right turn to Rizal; left turn to Palanca; left turn to Luzuriaga; right turn to San Juan; left turn to Rosario; left turn to Araneta; right turn to Gonzaga; right turn to Gatuslao; right turn to Burgos up to Lopues East; right turn to Circumferential Road; and end at BCGC.
Rodel Parcon, the secretariat of the activity, said other activities for the day include the awarding ceremonies for outstanding employees, business, and real property taxpayers, as well as recipients of the “Ang Banwahanon Award” and “I’ll Be the Change Award” at the BCGC lobby.
In the evening, 15 barangays will compete in the Barangay Festival Dance competition at the BCGC grounds.
Parcon said the champion will receive a cash prize of P80,000. The first and second runners-up will take home P50,000 and P30,000, respectively.
A P10,000 cash prize each will also be given to special awardees: Best in Costume, Best in Choreography and Best in Concept.
The Charter Day celebration is part of the week-long activities dubbed “Mga Adlaw Sang Paghanduraw” – the city’s annual commemoration of history, art and culture – that started on June 12 with the Philippine Independence Day celebration and will conclude with the commemoration of Rizal Day tomorrow, June 19./PN
