Police, military, and emergency response agencies formally presented their personnel and equipment at a send-off ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO) Landing Zone in Camp Lt. Col. Francisco C. Fernandez Jr., Barangay Agan-an, Sibulan — marking the start of a joint security deployment for Buglasan Festival 2026.
The Buglasan Festival, billed as the province’s annual “festival of festivals,” runs from Oct. 15 to 25, drawing contingents from cities and municipalities across Negros Oriental to Dumaguete City, according to NOrPPO.
Multi-Agency Forces Assembled in Sibulan
Uniformed personnel were organized into distinct task groups during the ceremony — covering security, peace and order, and emergency preparedness and response — based on signage visible in photos released by NOrPPO.
The agencies represented in the send-off included the Philippine National Police units under NOrPPO, soldiers from the Philippine Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Coast Guard personnel, Bureau of Fire Protection teams, provincial disaster response workers, and health personnel from the Integrated Provincial Health Office.
Also participating were the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Civil Security Unit, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Provincial Information Office, Provincial Legal Office, the Negros Oriental Provincial Mobile Force Company, and the city and municipal police stations under NOrPPO, the police office said in its statement.
Vehicles on display at the NOrPPO Landing Zone included ambulances, fire trucks, military trucks, and a police bus, deployed to support 11 days of festival operations.
Abella Cites Coordination and Discipline as Core Priorities
Police Col. Jonathan Abella, NOrPPO acting provincial director and commander of the festival’s security task group, said in his welcome remarks that inter-agency coordination, operational preparedness, and personnel discipline would guide the deployment, according to the NOrPPO statement.
Abella assumed the role of acting provincial director on Sept. 1. The ceremony marked his first major multi-agency mobilization under that command.
Regional Police Command Reaffirms Support
Police Col. Lito Patay, officer-in-charge of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region’s (PRO-NIR) regional operations division, delivered the message of PRO-NIR Regional Director Police Brig. Gen. Rudecindo Reales at the ceremony.
The message reaffirmed the regional command’s commitment to sustained police visibility, security operations, and inter-agency coordination during the festival, NOrPPO said. Reales took over PRO-NIR in September following the reassignment of his predecessor to Eastern Visayas.
Governor Pledges Capitol’s Full Backing
The ceremony was led by the Provincial Governor of Negros Oriental, who assured the participating agencies of the Capitol’s full support and cooperation throughout the 11-day event, according to NOrPPO.
Other officials in attendance included retired Police Col. Constantino Barot Jr., chairman of the province’s committee on safety and security; Farah Diba Gentuya, provincial director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government; Commodore Christopher Auro, commander of Coast Guard District Southern Visayas; Lt. Col. Sol Zaulda of the Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion; and Dr. Liland Zoila Estacion, chief of the Integrated Provincial Health Office.
Interfaith Blessing Closes the Ceremony
The formal program included an interfaith blessing of the deployed personnel and their assets, recognizing the multi-faith composition of the contingent before the forces dispersed to their assigned posts.
A boodle fight lunch was held afterward at the NOrPPO covered court, NOrPPO said, serving as a culminating activity for participating personnel ahead of festival operations.
By the Numbers
- 11 — days of Buglasan Festival 2026 (Oct. 15–25)
- 10+ — agencies participating in the joint security deployment
- Oct. 14 — date of the send-off ceremony at Barangay Agan-an, Sibulan
- Sept. 1 — date Abella assumed command as NOrPPO acting provincial director
Why This Matters
Buglasan Festival is one of the largest annual public gatherings in Negros Oriental, drawing participants and visitors from across the province to Dumaguete City over 11 days. The scale of the joint deployment — spanning police, military, coast guard, fire, disaster response, and health units — reflects the security and logistical demands of an event of this size. NOrPPO said the coordinated effort aims to ensure the safety of festivalgoers, residents, and visitors throughout the duration of the event.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of NOrPPO/PNP
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