"IT IS not about politics, and we are not politicizing the festival."

This was the reaction of Councilor Cindy Rojas, chairperson of the first Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival, on the statement of Councilor Ricardo Tan that festival appeared to be the biggest feeding program of the administration party, Grupo Progreso.

Rojas said Wednesday, May 9, that Tan is insulting the City Government because the festival was the official event of the city and it was attended by about 5,000 people.

She said the festival promoted food tourism and thousands of residents enjoyed it.

Tan earlier assailed his fellow city officials for not inviting him to the festival. He added he felt insulted by their action.

Rojas also stressed this is an activity of the city and the government officials need not be invited. “They can just attend the said activity if they want to,” she added.

She said the festival was officially opened by Igor Khovaev, ambassador of Russia to the Philippines, and it was successful.

Rojas noted the City Government only used P1.2 million for the festival.

Israel Salanga, event director, said the festival was well organized, and it was a big success for the people of Bacolod.

He said several policemen were deployed in the area to control the crowd and there was no untoward incident reported.

"How can Councilor Tan say that it was mismanaged since he was not even there?" Salanga asked.

"All the grilled chicken were distributed fairly to the indigents who were invited from the 61 barangays and the festival is now being featured in both local and national news. Media all over the country will not cover a flop event," Salanga added.