Bacolod mayor says Comelec clears barangays to participate in MassKara fest

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez | PHOTO: Official facebook page of Albee Benitez

BACOLOD CITY — Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez of this city on Monday, October 2, announced he has sought the clearance from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on the participation of their barangays in the MassKara Festival to ensure that laws in relation to the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on October 30 are not violated.

Benitez said he met with Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia who personally informed him that Bacolod had been granted clearance already.

The mayor wrote to Bacolod Election Officer Kathrina Trinio Caña on September 25 to inform her that Bacolod City is celebrating its annual MassKara Festival this October.

For this year’s celebration, Bacolod Yuhum Foundation Inc., the official event organizer of the festival, has lined up activities where all barangays in the city play a vital role.

READ: MassKara festival, dance declared ‘cultural property’ of Bacolod

Benitez cited the barangays’ participation, especially in the MassKara Electrika Diva, Electric Float Parade and Competition and MassKara Streetdance and Arena Competition, which are funded by the city and not by the barangay themselves.

“In this regard, the undersigned would like to seek guidance and advice from the Comelec on whether such participation of the barangays in the said activities would violate any law, resolution, guidelines and other issuances of the poll body in relation to the upcoming Barangay and SK elections on October 30,” he said.

JPV