![“The Pharmally case... there are 46 respondents [in our complaint], kaya medyo matagal. And many of them have become invisible. Para bang they're trying to evade the jurisdiction of this body,” says Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.](https://www.panaynews.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/plunder_copy_resized_resized-218x150.jpg "Ombudsman presses P11-B Pharmally plunder case But 23 respondents missing— Remulla")
BACOLOD City – In preparation for the upcoming 44th MassKara Festival, Lacson Street will be closed to traffic starting Oct. 16.
Known as the “Lacson Tourism Strip”, it is one of the six main festival sites and will be shut to vehicular movement from 3 p.m. onwards, leading up to the festival highlights on Oct. 22.
The closure was announced by Major Junji Liba, chief of the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO), during a press conference on Monday, Oct. 2.
Other prominent festival sites include BCGC grounds, SM City, The Upper East Megaworld, Bacolod Old Airport, and the Bacolod City Public Plaza.
On the day of the festival’s peak, Oct. 22, roads surrounding the Public Plaza, the front area of SM City, streets leading to the Pagla-um Sports Complex, and Araneta will be closed from 9 a.m. to accommodate the MassKara Street Dance and Arena Competition.
Due to changes in the parade’s starting point, Liba said the routes for 17 modernized and seven traditional jeepneys will be affected. A rerouting plan will soon be released by the BTAO to address this.
This year, the 10 barangays participating in the Street Dance and Arena Competition are Granada, Sum-ag, Tangub, 34, Vista Alegre, Mansilingan, Handumanan, Cabug, 21, and 40./PN