1,800 cops to secure MassKara Festival

BACOLOD CITY — About 1,800 police officers will be fielded to secure the MassKara Festival here, which kicks off on Oct. 1 and runs until Oct. 18.

The festival peaks on Oct. 16 with the Electric MassKara, followed by the arena and street dancing competitions for schools and barangays on Oct. 17 and Oct. 18.

Some 80  percent of the Bacolod police force,  about 800 officers, will be deployed to secure the festival. They will be joined by a 1,000-person augmentation force requested from the Police Regional Office Negros Island Region, Lt.Col. Lester Leada,  Bacolod Police Sub-Site Task Group for Peace and Order commander, said at a press conference at Citadines Bacolod on Friday, Sept. 18.

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READ: Bacolod unveils MassKara 2026 with more activities, new venues

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Police will be on full alert, and checkpoints will be established to ensure the safety of MassKara revelers, Leada  said.

He said  cell phone signal jamming and a gun ban during the festivities will depend on whether Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya submits a formal request and if high-profile VIPs arrive.

Leada assured the public of swift police responses to 911 calls. While police intelligence gathering shows no active threats to the festival, he said the police will remain vigilant.

With thousands of residents and visitors expected to converge on festival sites this October, the MassKara Festival 2026 interagency team is stepping up preparations for a safe, orderly, and secure celebration, organizers said at the press conference.

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The interagency team is  led by Rica Latergo, working closely with the Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc. through its director, Atty. Hannah Lea dela Torre.

The foundation is coordinating with the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Bacolod City Police Office, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bacolod Traffic and Transport Management Department (BTTMD), City Health Office, Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO), Department of Social Services and Development, rescue and volunteer groups, and other local and national agencies.

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Coordination covers crowd management, traffic control, fire prevention, medical emergency response, food safety, site inspections, and other protective measures for festivalgoers, workers, vendors, performers, and residents.

“MassKara is a celebration for everyone, and safety must be a shared responsibility. Our agencies and volunteers are preparing together, but we also need full public cooperation. Following rules, listening to authorities, and immediately reporting emergencies can make a significant difference,” Latergo said.

Dela Torre said that the foundation’s primary role is ensuring operations stay aligned with government agencies and addressing all necessary safety and legal requirements ahead of major events.

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“We are coordinating early with different agencies because MassKara is not only about the events on stage. It is also about making sure our streets, venues, food establishments, vendors, performers, and the public are covered by a coordinated safety plan,” dela Torre said. /das