The Iloilo City Government and Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI) have turned down the Iloilo City Police Office’s proposal to implement a signal shutdown during the upcoming Dinagyang Festival 2026, citing concerns over public inconvenience.
Mayor Raisa Treñas explained that such a move could disrupt communication not only within Iloilo City but also in neighboring towns and the province of Guimaras, affecting both residents and visiting tourists.
“We want to avoid a situation where signals are cut off, causing major inconvenience to Ilonggos and our guests from nearby areas,” she said in an official statement.
Instead of a network shutdown, Treñas and IFFI recommended stricter and more visible security measures to ensure public safety throughout the festival.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has committed to deploying its full personnel force along with additional force multipliers to maintain peace and order during the celebration.
The matter was discussed during a meeting at the Mayor’s Office last week with Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) Director Brigadier General Josefino Ligan, Deputy Regional Director for Administration Brigadier General Alexander Mariano, Deputy Regional Director for Operations Colonel Roland Bulalacao, and relieved ICPO Director Colonel Kim Legada.
At a press briefing, PRO-6 confirmed that a total of 3,824 personnel will be deployed to secure the festival. Brig. Gen. Ligan also assured that the recent relief of Col. Legada will not affect preparations.
“The Dinagyang security plan is already in place. We are simply refining it, especially with the festival only two weeks away,” he said.
The collaborative approach underscores the city and festival organizers’ priority to ensure safety while keeping communication lines open for the public and tourists alike.IMT
