Mayor Rejects Signal Jamming for Dinagyang Festival, Again

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas on Wednesday, January 8, rejected the Iloilo City Police Office’s (ICPO) proposal to implement signal jamming during this year’s Dinagyang Festival, citing its adverse impact on businesses and residents.

In a letter shared with the media, Treñas acknowledged the ICPO’s intention to enhance safety but emphasized the importance of uninterrupted mobile signal during the festival.

“While we understand the intention to enhance safety during the festival, it is crucial to note that the city and its residents heavily rely on mobile signal transmission, especially during Dinagyang,” the letter read.

“Mobile communication is necessary not only for personal interactions but also for ensuring the smoothness of business transactions, the promptness of emergency services, and the efficiency of public safety measures during the festival,” he added.

Treñas cited previous instances where signal jamming affected businesses, particularly those dependent on mobile connectivity, including app-based delivery services, retail, and banking.

He also noted that signal interruptions extended beyond the city, affecting neighboring towns in Iloilo province and even the island province of Guimaras.

“The undersigned believes that maintaining uninterrupted mobile signal during Dinagyang is essential, and the need to maintain mobile communications far outweighs the benefits of signal jamming,” he wrote. “Previous implementations of signal jamming in the city have affected not only its intended coverage area but also areas outside of Iloilo City.”

This marks the second consecutive year that Treñas has turned down the ICPO’s signal jamming request, following public complaints during the 2023 edition of the festival.

On Monday, January 6, the mayor’s spokesperson, Joy Fantilaga, hinted that Treñas would likely reject the proposal unless the ICPO could limit signal jamming to specific areas.

The ICPO had proposed limited signal jamming in key areas, such as judging zones for street dance competitions and other venues with high crowd volumes.

ICPO spokesperson Police Major Shella Mae Sangrines told Daily Guardian on January 3 that they respect the city government’s decision and remain committed to implementing alternative safety and security measures during the festival.