By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson released an executive order designating Provincial Tourism Officer Cheryl Decena as festival director for the upcoming Panaad sa Negros Festival this year.

Under Executive Order No. 23-04-A Series of 2023, Lacson said that there is a need to amend the organizing committee as they will be the ones responsible for the overall planning, implementation, coordination, and supervision of all programs and activities during the festival.

Aside from Decena, Engineer Jose Maria Amugod of the provincial government’s Special Program and Concerns Division was appointed as the logistics head.

The formal launching of the Panaad sa Negros was supposed to take place last Monday, February 13. However, it was rescheduled before the end of February.

Panaad sa Negros will be from April 17 to 23.

This will also be the first time the festival will be celebrated again after a three-year suspension brought by the COVID-19 pandemic./DGB, WDJ