During this year’s MassKara Festival, revelers got to enjoy Ceres-Negros FC football at the Panaad Park and Stadium, top-rated volleyball stars at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum, a golf tournament at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, the Negros International Open Chess Championship at the Osbron Hall of Ikthus Equipping Center, and Negrense boxer Merlito ‘Tiger’ Sabillo fighting in an ABF title bout. 

However, despite the numerous events, many are missing their favorite beverage, Coca-Cola.

It is said some leaders in the sugar industry persuaded the members of the Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) to pass a resolution banning the beverage maker, which has been a primary supporter of the festival.

Despite claims the move was not partisan, there are many more that are convinced politics has entered the festival.

Officially, city lawmakers initiated the ban, leaving entrepreneurs renting kiosks dismayed since Coca-Cola, much like companies such as Smart, Globe, San Miguel, among others, have put in the effort to keep the festival going.

If the Coca-Cola plant in Bacolod City is already using 100 percent local sugar, how much is enough?

Sugar leaders allegedly want all beverage plants to use local sugar; in a time when high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a lot cheaper.

With the ban, Coke drinkers, both foreign and local, are at a loss.

If the HFCS argument were valid, then all products using the sweetener should be banned, which includes Pepsi.

Will Coke lose millions? Ask the multinational beverage giant. Will kiosk operators lose sales? Yes. Will politicians seeking re-election lose votes? A definite yes.

Now in its 38th year, the MassKara Festival, which has been aided by Coca-Cola since its inception, may now be key in bringing down the local producer because of politics.

Is this ban permanent, similar to the provincial government’s actions at the height of the HFCS uproar? Afraid we may have the same answer./WDJ