BACOLOD City – To ensure public safety, maintain peace and order, and provide immediate emergency response during the MassKara Festival 2025 this October, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) will deploy 300 police personnel as part of its augmentation force.
This was announced by Colonel Joeresty Coronica, director of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), during a press conference on September 24 organized by the Inter-Agency Department of the Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc. (BGFI) in a local mall.
Coronica said a total of 1,819 police officers will be deployed throughout the festivities, which will run from October 1 to 19. Of this number, 900 will come from augmentation forces — 600 from the three provincial police offices of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor under the Negros Island Region (NIR), and 300 from PRO-6.
Given the expected large crowds, Coronica stressed the need for additional security personnel to help prevent crimes, manage crowd movement, and assist festivalgoers.
“The goal is to create a secure environment so that the celebration can proceed smoothly,” he said.
This year marks the first time the BCPO operates under PRO-NIR. However, Coronica noted that the region has limited personnel since it only covers three provinces. In addition, Negros Oriental will also be holding its Buglasan Festival in October, further straining manpower.
As a result, PRO-NIR sought assistance from PRO-6, which previously had jurisdiction over Bacolod. In turn, Coronica assured that the BCPO would also extend support to Iloilo City during the Dinagyang Festival by sending its own personnel.
Aside from nearly 2,000 police officers, security will be reinforced by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Bacolod Traffic and Transport Management Department (BTTMD), the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), force multipliers, and other government agencies.
Four official festival sites have been identified by the BGFI: the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC), Bacolod Public Plaza, Lacson Tourism Strip, and The Upper East–Megaworld. The foundation has already submitted a proposal to the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) for road closures in these areas. The BTTMD will implement traffic rerouting once the proposal is approved.
Meanwhile, the CDRRMO is coordinating with barangays and schools participating in the Electric MassKara, as well as the arena and street dance competition, to ensure emergency preparedness.
Coronica also revealed that he has recommended to the City Mayor’s Office to request a gun ban from higher police headquarters during the duration of the festival./PN
