Police boost security as Iloilo City rejects Dinagyang signal shutdown

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Mobile and data services will remain uninterrupted during the Dinagyang Festival after the Iloilo City government and festival organizers rejected a police proposal for a signal shutdown and instead ordered tighter security measures.

Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu said Friday, Jan. 9, that the city government and the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. rejected the Iloilo City Police Office’s request after previous signal disruptions affected not only Iloilo City but also nearby towns and the province of Guimaras.

Treñas-Chu said past signal shutdowns caused inconvenience to residents, workers, businesses, and festivalgoers.

The police proposal would have covered only areas where major Dinagyang events will be held.

On Friday, Police Regional Office 6 Director Brig. Gen. Josefino Ligan and outgoing Iloilo City Police Office Director Col. Kim Legada met with Treñas-Chu to discuss security preparations for the festival.

Instead of cutting mobile and data signals, the city government directed police to implement stricter security measures to ensure public safety during the festivities.

“The Philippine National Police also assured us that they will deploy full force, including force multipliers, to help maintain peace and order in the city,” Treñas-Chu said.

Ligan, in a separate press briefing, said security preparations for the Dinagyang Festival remain in place despite Legada’s temporary relief from his post.

“The Dinagyang security preparations are in place,” Ligan said.

“In fact, we have conducted numerous meetings on that end and to the supervision and control of the city director, all of which are in place,” he added.

“It is just a matter of refinement, especially almost two weeks from now, that will be the D-day,” Ligan said.

He said more than 3,000 police personnel and force multipliers will be deployed to augment festival security.

Legada said Thursday that a series of bomb threats reported in Iloilo City schools late last year was among the factors behind the police office’s request for a signal shutdown.

He acknowledged that a network shutdown would not only affect festivalgoers but also hamper the operations of special police task groups, particularly in emergency preparedness and response.

“If we weigh the pros and cons, it is more favorable not to have a signal shutdown,” Legada said.

He added that despite the absence of a signal shutdown during the Dinagyang Festival since 2024, peace and security operations have remained effective.

The Iloilo City Police Office is finalizing the number of personnel to be deployed for the festival after the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. announced a new performance area for participating tribes.

The Dinagyang Festival, one of the country’s major religious and cultural celebrations, draws thousands of spectators annually and centers on performances honoring the Santo Niño.