By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said the proposed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the city government and the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation Inc., (BYFI) for the handling of MassKara Festival 2023 is still awaiting approval of the Sangguniang Panlungsod waiting.
In a press conference Monday, Benitez also said this year’s festival will feature almost the same activities “but not as extensive as last year” due to financial losses BYFI incurred in 2022.
He cited for instance that the MassKara street dancing participants will be limited to only 10 instead of 17.
But Benitez assured that the prizes will be the same and the city government will give out subsidies to the participating groups.
He also confirmed that BYFI will have new officers this year:
Katherine A. Matiling, president; Kuster Y. Cadagat, board secretary; Jericho A. Redil, board treasurer, and Patrick S. Lacson, Ma. Lourdes Socorro V. Montalvo and Rodney Mitz B. Ascalon on the board of directors.
Benitez also said that the BYFI may have incurred losses because from the start it did not determine how much the sponsors are going to contribute.
“But they need to plan ahead, this is one of the hardships encountered in handling the MassKara Festival,” he pointed out.
Aside from the P6 million in losses incurred by the BYFI, which he personally shouldered, he also shelled out personal funds to cover MassKara Festival expenses.
When asked how much, Benitez replied “Eight figures.”
The launching of the MassKara Festival will be on October 6, 2023 and the venue for the street dancing competition will still be at the Paglaum Sports Complex.
