By CESAR JOLITO III
At least 300 police personnel from the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) have been deployed to maintain peace and order during the 21st Bacolaodiat Festival this weekend.
BCPO officer-in-charge, Colonel Eugene Rebadomia, said the heightened security measures aim to ensure the safety of festivalgoers, participants and visitors attending the week-long celebration of the Chinese New Year.
Police personnel have been strategically stationed at major festival venues, including the Bacolod City Government Center, Megaworld Upper East Park, SM City Bacolod, and Ayala Malls Capitol Central.
Officers are tasked with crowd control, traffic management and rapid response to any untoward incidents throughout the festivities.
The Bacolaodiat Festival officially opened on February 14 and will feature key highlights such as the opening of the Emperor’s Market and the Imperial Village Walls of Fortune at the Bacolod City Government Center on Friday, February 20.
Festivities will continue with a lantern dance competition and a Chinese cosplay invasion on Saturday, February 21, culminating in the closing ceremonies on Sunday, February 22.
Bacolaodiat, derived from “baco” for Bacolod and “lao diat,” a Fookien term meaning celebration, reflects the strong cultural ties between the city and its Filipino-Chinese community.
The Bacolod City Council earlier approved P5 million in financial assistance to support the staging of this year’s festival./CJ, WDJ