ILOILO City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) resolved that mobile phone signal jamming is needed for security purposes during the Dinagyang Festival.
Yesterday the city council approved a resolution on the temporary shutdown of telecommunications signal during the two-day highlights of the Dinagyang Festival 2023 on Jan. 21 to 22, from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m.
It is requesting Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. (Attention: PNP Directorate For Operations director, Police Major General Emmanuel B. Peralta, and National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) officer-in-charge-regional director, Engr. Lea De la Cruz-Doromal) to shut down all the telecommunications signal on said highlights of the Dinagyang.
The signal shutdown will cover Plaza Libertad, Freedom Grandstand, Plazoleta Gay, provincial capitol, portion of the Iloilo Terminal Market, Robinsons Mall, and Ortiz Street, City Proper.
Also, on Jan. 21, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m., signal shutdown covers SM City Iloilo, Atria Park District and Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao district for the Dinagyang Ilomination and Floats Parade of Lights.
For the past several years, mobile phone services were suspended during the two-day highlights of the festival as part of the security measures.
But unlike before when the whole city was covered by the signal jamming, this year the shutdown is targeted – only in areas of public convergence and Dinagyang highlight activities.
Councilor Romel Duron said this move will minimize the risk especially that there are dignitaries and visitors coming over to witness the comeback of the face-to-face Dinagyang Festival.
Duron, chairman of the SP committee on public utilities and sponsor of the aforementioned resolution, added that the final approval for the signal jamming will be from the NTC.
The PNP will request for a signal jamming with the NTC, with the resolution of the city council as a support, he said.
In the 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 editions of the festival, the NTC approved the police’s request for mobile phone signal jamming.
Explaining the phone signal jamming, NTC said terrorists could detonate improvised explosive devices using cell phone signals.
Moreover, an 11-day gun ban will also be enforced for the Dinagyang.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Rene Obregon, deputy director for operations of the Iloilo City Police Office, said the gun ban will be from Jan. 13 to 23. Only police personnel will be allowed to carry firearms.
Jan. 13 is the Dinagyang opening salvo./PN
