Bacolod prepares for MassKara; PDEA on alert for drugs

Bacolod City has started preparations for its yearly MassKara Festival in October, even as the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) went on alert for crime syndicates’ attempts to smuggle in drugs in time for the festival. The PDEA in Negros Occidental cited intelligence reports that there may be a huge shipment of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) headed for Bacolod in time for the event. PDEA-6 Intelligence and Investigation chief, Intelligence Officer 3 Cerilo Baluma, said they have intensified their monitoring activities in the sea ports and at the Bacolod-Silay Airport, news site Visayan Daily Star reported Saturday. Baluma said they are monitoring an illegal drug personality who may facilitate the huge shipment of shabu, but withheld the personality's name. He added the PDEA national office will send a 10-member team to Bacolod and Negros Occidental to prevent the entry of illegal drugs during the festival. Bacolod City police chief Senior Superintendent Ricardo de la Paz earlier said they will closely coordinate with PDEA to prevent the entry of drugs during MassKara. He said they will help PDEA personnel secure sea ports and airports to thwart the entry of drugs. Details of festivities Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia promised more innovations in the 32nd edition of MassKara. Leonardia and festival director Eli Francis Tajanlangit led sponsors and other city officials at the switch-on ceremonies of the Billboard of Lights at the Bacolod Public Plaza Friday night to launch the countdown to the festival, which has as theme, “Celebrating the new icons of Bacolod." On October 1, the Bacolod bandstand will be unveiled, with light shows every night to attract people back to the plaza. Tajanlangit said artists will float artworks at the fountain area of the Government Center. He said the La Consolacion College, which had participated in 2004, will return with very innovative giant MassKara puppets. “There will be about 30-45 of these puppets that will dance in the streets for the Electric MassKara, and the Barangay Streetdance competition that will be participated in by 15 barangays," he added. He said the Electric MassKara will have 10 participating entries but they are getting inquiries from institutions who want to join as non-competing entries. Tajanlangit said the mayor has specified to them that they have to promote the MassKara Festival overseas at world-class standards to attract tourists to Bacolod. — ELR, GMA News