Bacolod seeking to use Paglaum complex for MassKara Festival

Bacolod City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III said Thursday, September 21, that they are now preparing the letter of Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez for Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson for their request to use the Paglaum Sports Complex and other Capitol properties for the MassKara Festival in October.

This comes after Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II earlier said that Bacolod Yuhum Foundation Inc., an organizer of 2023 MassKara Festival, has “no legal personality” to make such transactions with the province.

On September 19, Maghari along with the officials of Bacolod Yuhum Foundation led by its president, Katherine Matiling, held a meeting with Diaz to discuss their request to avail the province's facilities, especially the Paglaum Sports Complex, for the highlights of the MassKara Festival.

Aside from the Paglaum Sports Complex, Maghari said the foundation also asked the province for the possible use of the North Capitol Road and the Capitol Park and Lagoon.

"Since there’s a process of accreditation, we need to follow the protocol; it should be local government unit (LGU) to LGU transactions, and the foundation is not accredited with the province,” Maghari said.

He added that he already talked with Diaz, and there’s now a pre-reservation at Paglaum Sports Complex, and it’s a matter of formality.

Maghari clarified that Lacson also expressed his support for the MassKara Festival, and he will allow the city to use its facilities.

"We have no problem with the provincial government,” he said.

Diaz earlier said that as a matter of procedure and protocol, it should be Benitez writing Lacson.

"Upon receipt of the letter from the mayor, the governor will just approve whatever request. Then we can work with the foundation's working team and Capitol's working team,” he said.

Diaz noted that there will be no MassKara festivities at Panaad Park and Stadium, unlike last year, because of lack of preparation.

As to the conduct of the Masskara sa Panaad, Diaz said the provincial government has not received any request from the foundation, and it's not on their official schedule.*