• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
The Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) reported a generally peaceful and orderly celebration of the Buglasan Festival, as no major crimes were recorded across the festival sites.
The festival, which was held from October 16 to 26, mobilized 1,081 personnel, including 623 from the Philippine National Police, who were assigned to patrol the city along with 60 Civil Security Unit members, 53 firefighters, and 6 from drug enforcement agencies.
Meanwhile, 156 personnel from the Negros Oriental Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Office were disseminated across activity areas, alongside 42 members of the coast guard for quick response during emergencies. Fifty-eight traffic enforcers were also sent.
“Within the festival sites, no major crime incidents were reported. This record highlights the success of intensified police visibility, efficient crowd control, and strategic coordination among security forces and partner agencies,” PRO-NIR Spokesperson Joem Malong said in a statement.
The effective security deployment was widely credited as a key factor in achieving a generally peaceful and orderly celebration.
According to the statistics released by the regional police, approximately 100,000 festivalgoers visited Dumaguete City during the 11-day celebration.
With the peaceful celebration, Regional Police Director PBrig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay expressed his commendation to Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO) Director PCol. Criscente Tiguelo and all the personnel deployed for their professionalism and efforts in ensuring public safety.
Buglasan Festival, also known as “The Festival of Festivals”, is one of the biggest festivals in the province of Negros Oriental which is celebrated annually in the capital city of Dumaguete City, usually in the middle of October, since 2002.*
