By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – After 40 straight years of celebration, this city will skip the holding of the MassKara Festival in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia on Monday issued Executive Order No. 62 suspending the annual festival and its side revelries/activities in October.
The EO cited the declaration of the national state of calamity until next year because of the health crisis.
It also noted that the city is under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) from Sept 8-30, 2020 because of rising COVID-19 cases.
The EO also underscored that 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 suspension of the MassKara festival.
The EO also prohibits the Business Permits and Licensing Office from issuing any business permit or license to operate any form of activities or events in connection with the 2020 MassKara Festival.
Any permit/license that may have already been issued/granted prior to this Executive Order is deemed revoked/cancelled, the E.O. stated.
