By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to arrive in Bacolod City around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 22, amid the annual streetdance competition, part of the MassKara Festival.

The president is expected to speak at the Bacolod Public Plaza, where he will be welcomed by Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr., Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Bacolod Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Deputy Commissioner Jesus ‘Clint’ Aranas.

The said competition will be paused for the president’s arrival.

Organizers expect around 10,000 people to show up for the event, including mayors and other government officials from across Negros Occidental.

Meanwhile, an additional 410 police officers from the Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) recently arrived in Bacolod City ahead of the president’s arrival.

PRO-6 spokesperson, Police Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, said they declared a full alert status for the entire Western Visayas region, with additional cops from Iloilo sent to Bacolod City to further augment security.