Santo Niño fluvial procession to draw 450 devotees

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Ten modernized boats ferried at least 450 devotees during the fluvial procession of Señor Santo Niño on Jan. 23, one of the major religious highlights of the Dinagyang Festival.

El John Ga, deputy station commander for administration of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Iloilo, said each of the 10 modernized boats has a seating capacity of 60, but only 75 percent of the capacity was allowed for the procession.

Ga said the PCG strictly enforced a “no ticket, no boarding” policy, allowing only devotees with official tickets issued by the San Jose Parish Placer to board the vessels.

“The organizers from the parish church issued the tickets for devotees who are allowed to ride the modernized boats and join the fluvial procession,” Ga said Thursday.

He clarified that privately owned boats were not allowed to join the procession unless included on an approved list agreed upon during coordination meetings.

Ga said the restriction was intended to maintain proper sequencing and ensure security personnel were fully aware of all participating vessels.

The fluvial procession started at 2 p.m. from the Iloilo Fish Port Complex in Barangay Tanza-Baybay, City Proper.

The image of Santo Niño de Cebu was carried aboard the BRP Kalanggaman, a 24-meter fast patrol boat of the PCG.

The BRP Malapascua, a 44-meter Parola-class multi-role response vessel, carried VIPs, including church officials and city and provincial leaders, from Muelle Loney.

“This is a yearly tradition. Safety is still our priority. Just follow the protocols onboard and the ground personnel so we can avoid accidents and we can safely end the procession,” Ga said.

To ensure safety and operational readiness, the PCG deployed rigid inflatable boats, eight rubber boats, and two tugboats as part of the convoy and emergency response units.

The vessels converged at the Bondulan point in front of Bala-an Bukid in Jordan, Guimaras, passed through the Iloilo Strait, continued along the Iloilo River, and ended at Muelle Loney near the Bureau of Customs.

Ga said the route was modified this year following coordination with organizers.

Last year, the vessel carrying the image of the Holy Child departed from the Bacolod Wharf in the Lapuz district.

After docking at Muelle Loney, the image of Señor Santo Niño was disembarked for a solemn foot procession to San Jose Parish.

The route passed Montinola (Grand Xing), Fermin Caram Street, JM Basa Street, Zamora Street, and Plaza Libertad before culminating at San Jose Parish.

The PCG issued a sea travel advisory temporarily suspending all vessel trips between Iloilo and Guimaras from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 23 to give way to the fluvial procession.