Backpacks banned at Tuna Festival 2013!

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n a  recent press conference by the City Hall Public Info Office, General Santos City Mayor Ronnel Rivera has announced that backpacks will not be allowed to be brought inside the major venues of the 2013 Tuna Festival.

These major venues include the Carlos P. Garcia Freedom Park which is more well known as the Oval Plaza, the Oval Plaza Covered Court and basically all event areas within the parameters of the General Santos City Government Center.

This move is part of the strict security measures that the city and the police have initiated for the annual Tuna Festival which for this year will officially start on September 5, 2013 in a programme at the Oval Plaza Stage following the Tuna Float Parade.  These precautionary procedures are in response to the bombing attacks on the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato and other parts of Mindanao last August.

NOTE:  Yesterday, I was not allowed to bring my backpack inside the KCC Convention and Events Center where the Salamat Kapamilya Show was ongoing.  I had to leave it at the package counter of a downstairs bookstore. 

READ HERE:  THE TUNA FESTIVAL 2013 SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

At least 500 police personnel,  civil security units and military have been deployed since two weeks ago and security checkpoints have been set up in various entry points of the city.  In addition to this, mobile patrols will be visible until after the Tuna Festival’s culmination on September 9, 2013, where the much-awaited STREETDANCING COMPETITiON will occur.

Personally, this will be good for the Tunafest revelers as it assures everyone that the city government and its police are on top of the situation.

While we are hoping and praying for a peaceful and incident-free Tuna Festival celebration, do you think these security measures are enough?