The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) is using three all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to enhance mobility, improve response time and increase visibility operations for the ongoing 44th MassKara Festival.

Col. Noel Aliño, police city director, said on Wednesday the ATVs have been deployed in areas needing increased police presence, among these are the seven main festival sites.

“By utilizing the ATVs for mobile patrol during the MassKara Festival, we aim to enhance public safety, ensure effective law enforcement and provide a secure environment for the festival participants and spectators,” he said.

The ATVs were donated by the city government led by Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez to the BCPO on Tuesday, in time for the 16-day festival which will run until Oct. 22.

Aliño said they will conduct continuous monitoring and evaluation of the ATV program’s effectiveness, including analyzing response times, efficiency of patrols, incidents prevented and feedback from festival-goers and law enforcement personnel.

Based on the evaluation results, adjustments or improvements can be made, he added.

In a report, the BCPO said it will be responsible for the regular maintenance, servicing and upkeep of the ATVs to ensure their optimal performance during the festival.

Designated police officers have undergone specialized training in operating the ATVs, including safe handling, driving techniques and emergency procedures specific to such type of vehicles.

During the festival, the BCPO will determine the strategic deployment of the ATVs based on crowd size, event schedule and specific policing requirements in coordination with festival organizers and other relevant stakeholders.

Almost 3,000 personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies have been deployed to secure this year’s MassKara Festival.

The security forces include 941 personnel of the BCPO and 1,041 augmentation troops of the Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas).

The rest are from PNP support units, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine Army, Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Army, as well as personnel of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and various force multiplier groups.

Seven major festival sites have been identified: the Bacolod Public Plaza, Bacolod City Government Center, Megaworld’s The Upper East, SM City Bacolod, Old Airport, Lacson Tourism Strip and Paglaum Sports Complex. (PNA)