ICPO hits target of safe yet fun-filled Dinagyang 2024

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Target achieved!

Iloilo City Police Office’s (ICPO) goal of having a safe and secure yet fun-filled Dinagyang Festival 2024 has been achieved.

During the Task Group Dinagyang 2024 closing and awarding ceremony on Jan. 29, the ICPO declared that the recently concluded Dinagyang celebration was generally peaceful as no major crime incident occurred.

It can be noted that the TG Dinagyang 2024 deployed 8,601 security personnel.

The security forces are composed of members of the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Army, and other force multipliers.

Colonel Joeresty Coronica, Iloilo City police chief, cited the members of the security forces for strictly implementing the guidelines set by the STG Dinagyang, the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI), and the Iloilo City government to ensure a safe, orderly and peaceful revelry.

Coronica said the community served as their witness to the active involvement of various law enforcement agencies in Iloilo City, which have worked together to ensure the success of this year’s highly-anticipated event.

“The whole-of-government approach, cooperation, and collaboration significantly contributed to the peaceful conduct of this yearly event,” he said.

The city police chief cited that they have adopted various strategies that led to the overall success of Dinagyag 2024.

These include the implementation of the Event Security Framework Standards; activation and operationalization of the Regional Intelligence Fusion Center; and formulation of the Joint Security Plan; forward deployment of sub-site task groups and quick response forces within or around the activity areas; establishment of the City Joint Operations Center.

They have also adopted the pre-deployment and post-deployment briefings to provide guidance for deployed personnel; enhanced information operations; deployment of Area Supervisors and Red Teams; and utilization of Social Media, Task Unit PIO, and Task Unit COMREL in the conduct of information dissemination and monitoring.

“This is a team effort. We, at the STG Dinagyang 2024, are in gratitude to everyone for their valuable participation in the success of the celebration and in achieving the goal of zero major incidents,” Coronica said.

He also cited the ICPO personnel, members of the augmentation police force,  other law enforcement agencies involved, and the public for their cooperation and support in making this year’s Dinagyang in Iloilo City generally peaceful.

“Again, we made history. Your support and cooperation are the factors for making this possible. Ang Dinagyang 2024 pamatood lang nga basta gabinuligay kag ginpreparahan anu man ka daku sang kahiwatan kag pagtilaw malampuwasan kag malab-ot ang kadalag-an,” he said.

Coronica said that ICPO is honored to have done and achieved something in making Dinagyang 2024 successful, security-wise.