BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has issued Executive Order (EO) 62, suspending the public celebration of the MassKara Festival and all revelries/activities in October 2020 to observe and comply with the health and safety protocols against coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Leonardia, who signed the EO on September 20, said the annual celebration of the MassKara Festival and all its attendant revelries and activities, including but not limited to parades, street dance competitions, exhibits, road shows, dance/talent/singing/beauty/costume/pyrotechnic contests, concerts, sports events, cockfights, open market/food/plants/wares/apparel fairs, industrial/commercial fairs, or any other form of
peddling/interactions/transactions in open places at public roads/streets/alleys/parks/squares, and the like, are all suspended during the whole month of October 2020.
He said the Business Permits and Licensing Office shall not issue any business permit or license to operate any form of activities or events in connection with the 2020 MassKara Festival, particularly those mentioned in Section 1 hereof.
Any permit/license that may have already been issued/granted prior to the EO is deemed revoked/cancelled, he said.
He added the City Council is also requested to avoid the issuance of any permit/license for any activity or event attendant to or related with the 2020 MassKara Festival celebration, and to appropriately act in revoking the same had there been a prior issuance, under its power and authority provided in Section 21 of Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of the Philippines.
Leonardia noted that at present, Bacolod City is placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from September 8 until 30, pursuant to Resolution 69-A, s. 2020, dated September 7, 2020 and issued by the National IATF indubitably for the same reasons provided in the Proclamation 1021 of the Office of the President.
On August 25, City Ordinance 937, s. 2020 (CO 937), was ordained by the City Council, granting emergency powers to the city mayor all for the purpose of appropriately regulating, controlling, and containing the Covid-19 pandemic affecting Bacolod City and its neighboring local government units (LGUs).
Leonardia said the facts and scientific studies supported by empirical data have undoubtedly established that mass gatherings can be an effective channel of transmitting and spreading infections, like the Covid-19, among the population; thus, the EO suspending the MassKara Festival celebration and its attendant activities and revelries during the month of October 2020 is called for.
He said Section 16 of the Local Government Code states that every LGU shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare.