Bacolod City – More than a month before the MassKara Festival 2025 is to be staged, the Police Regional Office – Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) is preparing a comprehensive security plan to ensure the safety of festival-goers.
PBrig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, PRO-NIR regional director, presided over an emergency meeting on August 21 at Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City, which focused on the comprehensive preparation and operational readiness of PRO – NIR for the Masskara Festival 2025, scheduled from September 30 to October 19.
A major highlight of the discussion, according to a statement issued by PRO-NIR, was the utilization of the PNP’s capabilities, particularly the use of drones for real-time aerial surveillance and monitoring of crowd movement.
The technology will significantly aid in implementing the 5-minute response policy, allowing ground units to respond promptly to incidents as they arise, it added.
Specialized units such as SWAT, EOD, K9, and traffic enforcement units are also up for deployment to high-density areas and critical points throughout the festival zones, to ensure maximum police visibility in key event locations, including parade routes, concert venues, public transport terminals, and tourist spots.
During the meeting, the Bacolod City Police Office, represented by PLt. Col. Joery Puerto, presented the BCPO Security Plan and deployment strategy designed to ensure the safety and security of both locals and tourists attending the month-long festivities.
Ibay stressed the importance of not just visibility, but also community engagement and proactive policing to build public trust and deter criminal activity. In addition to coordination with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Bacolod City, the meeting also highlighted close inter-agency collaboration with various national and regional partners
including the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Department of Health (DOH), Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (DRRMO), and other concerned agencies.
These agencies will assist in areas such as emergency response, traffic management, medical support, disaster preparedness, intelligence sharing, and logistical augmentation.
Ibay also called for continuous coordination, joint simulation exercises, and real-time communication channels among all agencies in the days leading up to and during the event.* (Gilbert Bayoran via tvds)