The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) will deploy 181 personnel to secure the staging of the Panaad sa Negros Festival at the Panaad Park and Stadium here on October 10 to 16, as part of the 43rd Masskara Festival.

Negros Occidental’s “festival of all festivals”, held during summer each year, usually in April, is taking part in this capital city’s world-renowned festivity also after a two-year absence due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Lt. Judesses Catalogo, public information officer of NOCPPO, said in a virtual press briefing on Tuesday that about 150 non-commissioned personnel, along with 31 officers, would be deployed two days before the start of the event.

“They will ensure security and order at the Panaad Park,” he added.

Catalogo said the augmentation order came from the Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas) based on the request of the Bacolod City Police Office.

He said after the Panaad event, the NOCPPO security contingent would most likely be deployed to other Masskara Festival sites until the culmination of the three-week festivity on October 23.

He added that since the start of the Masskara Festival on October 1, provincial police personnel have been assigned to secure the border areas of Negros Occidental going to Bacolod.

Border control operations include the setting up of checkpoints at the boundaries of the cities of Bago, Talisay, as well as Murcia town.

Dubbed “Masskara sa Panaad”, the week-long showcase will be the first time that a Masskara Festival event would be held at the Panaad Park and Stadium.

Panaad, which is the Hiligaynon word for “vow” or “promise”, showcases the themed pavilions of the cities and municipalities of the province with their delicacies, farm produce, food products, handicrafts, culture, and lifestyle. (PNA)