• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod ratified the memorandum of agreement entered into by and between the City of Bacolod, represented by Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, and the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation, Inc., represented by its president Katherine Matiling, designating the foundation as over-all festival organizer for the conduct of the MassKara Festival 2024.
Bacolod Councilor Jason Villarosa said the MOA was unanimously approved by the members of Council recently, after the Foundation complied with all the requirements they requested, which included an audited report of last year’s celebration. This will give the Foundation ample time to solicit funds to be used for the festival this year so it will not incur a deficit like in the past.
The agreement covers the conduct of the MassKara Festival from October 1 to 27, 2024, culminating with the festival highlight on the 4th Sunday of October, and will include promotions and advertisements in the lead up to the start of the Festival two months prior to October.
Under the MOA, the source of funds for the festival shall be taken from sponsors that the foundation may obtain. The city may augment such funding for the Festival with its own funds subject to applicable provisions of law. Further, all funds for the festival and any government funds must be duly accounted and liquidated with any unused public funds returned or refunded pursuant to applicable laws.
Any revenue generated on behalf of the festival including pre-festival activities implemented by the foundation should be accounted for with 60 percent of the net profits, after deduction of fees and taxes imposed on the Festival, going to the Foundation with the remaining revenue going to the city, it said.*
