Bacolod: Organizers of the 46th MassKara Festival have developed evacuation guidelines for emergencies such as flooding or earthquakes along Lacson St. during the festival's highlights from October 17 to 19. The 'Lacson Tourism Strip' will feature five stages offering live performances, DJ sets, interactive installations, and cultural showcases.
According to Philippines News Agency, site director Mark Raymund Garcia announced that each music stage cluster has a designated evacuation point. Festival-goers are advised to follow instructions from uniformed marshals or Public Safety Command Post personnel in case of an evacuation. Garcia emphasized, "In case of emergency, marshals will guide you through safe lanes marked with glow tape and barricades. Avoid re-entering stages or tents until safety officials declare it safe."
Bacolod has recently experienced a series of strong earthquakes affecting Cebu and Davao Oriental, along with flooding in some areas, including Lacson St., due to torrential rains. Residents felt tremors from a magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Bogo City, Cebu, a day before the festival opened on October 1.
A large crowd is anticipated on Friday night for the Electric MassKara float competition, featuring 12 barangays from The Upper East Megaworld to the Bacolod City Government Center grounds. The arena and street dance competitions will showcase seven elementary schools and 10 barangays competing from the Paglaum Sports Complex to the Bacolod Public Plaza on Sunday.
To ensure safety and security, the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) has deployed 2,495 personnel for the weekend's highlights. On Thursday, an additional 300 personnel from PRO-Western Visayas and 211 from PRO-NIR joined the security efforts. The initial deployment included 1,320 Philippine National Police personnel, 64 from other government security forces, 250 force multipliers, 80 from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and rescue groups, and 270 personnel from the Bacolod Traffic and Transport Management Department.
Additional security personnel include members of the Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, the Philippine Army, and the Philippine Coast Guard.
