By Jennifer P. Rendon
More police officers, other members of law enforcement agencies, and civilian force multipliers will secure the in-person Dinagyang Festival 2023.
Brigadier General Leo Francisco, Western Visayas police chief, led the send-off ceremony for the 7,215-person security force at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand on Jan 16, 2023.
Composed of the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Army, and other force multipliers, the security persons will form part of the Site Task Group (STG) Dinagyang 2023.
Around 2,049 STG personnel will compose the five task units: SSTG Command and Control, SSTG Security, SSTG Peace and Order, SSTG Emergency Preparedness and Response, and SSTG Public Safety.
Apart from the organic Iloilo City police, the force includes 2,159 augmentation police personnel and 2,971 force multipliers.
They will be deployed from Jan 16 to 22.
Colonel Arnold Thomas Ibay, PRO-6 Regional Operations Division (ROD), presented the forces and resources for the festival.
Francisco said the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 has started laying out security preparations for the Dinagyang since last year.
Just like Bacolod City’s MassKara Festival and Kalibo’s Ati-Atihan Festival, the Dinagyang will also adopt the Major Event Security Framework (MESF) and Whole-of Nation Strategy in its security preparations.
“And it’s our commitment to the people that this Dinagyang will be successful,” Francisco said, as he assured that they have made enough preparation, resources, and personnel.
“We have planned long and hard for this. We will do everything we can to replicate if not exceed preparation for Ati-Atihan,” he said.
Francisco also ordered the different task force commanders to exert maximum preparedness and practice quick response.
Both Judgee Peña, Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI) chairman, and City Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna assured the security forces of their support.
“We believe in your capabilities. We have no doubt that this Dinagyang will be a success,” Cabaluna said while asking the security forces to sacrifice and work a little in making Dinagyang the best and safest festival in the country.
