THE City of Bacolod will hold a New Year countdown with a fireworks display at the Bacolod Government Center (BGC) grounds on December 31.
Event director Israel Salanga said the countdown was introduced by Mayor Evelio Leonardia to give an opportunity for the families to enjoy the fireworks display.
The program will start at 6 p.m. with a concert participated by various local bands.
The City Government will also raffle off prizes to Bacolodnons.
The fireworks display, which will last for 10 to 15 minutes, will start at 12 midnight.
Leonardia said the City Government allotted P350,000 for the New Year countdown while business process outsourcing firm PanAsiatic Solutions sponsored the fireworks display.
He said thousands of Bacolodnons are expected to join the countdown.
“I feel that this is going to be a bigger crowd because when we started this, we were trying to break that custom and tradition that most people are celebrating the New Year’s Eve in their houses,” he added.
The mayor noted that with the full implementation of the guidelines on the regulation and control of the use of firecrackers, more people will join the city’s New Year countdown.
“This is a wholesome and entertaining fireworks display and it is worth a celebration of the New Year’s Eve at the BGC,” he said.
The mayor added that Bacolod is celebrating the New Year’s countdown like the one in New York, USA, which has become a symbol of New Year’s Eve celebration.
“The people are happy, kissing each other so we would like to create something like that. The tradition in New York has become that big so in the Philippines if there is such New Year’s Eve celebration that people will look forward to, it should be in Bacolod. Bacolod will celebrate as one big happy family,” he said.
The mayor added that he will propose to the City Council to institutionalize the yearly activity.
