ILOILO City – The supposed mobile phone signal jamming only in specific areas during the two-day Dinagyang Festival 2023 highlights spilled over to other areas as far as Guimaras province and nearby Iloilo towns, stirring adverse reactions from the public.
Telecommunications companies should explain, said Councilor Romel Duron.
He summoned them to a meeting on Thursday, Jan. 26.
“We will ask them what happened,” said Duron, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) committee on public utilities. “Ang amon ‘ya nga pangabay lang, dira lang sa staging area. As much as possible indi ang whole city,” he said.
It was the Philippine National Police (PNP), as in-charge of the Dinagyang security, that requested the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for the phone signal jamming. It sought the support of the city council.
The SP, for its part, approved a resolution on the temporary shutdown of telecommunications signal on Jan. 21 to 22.
Mayor Jerry P. Treñas also expressed dismay. He said except for the signal jamming, the celebration of Dinagyang 2023 was a great success.
He vowed to no longer endorse the request of the PNP for signal jamming for Dinagyang Festival starting next year.
“I take full and complete responsibility for the same. It did not help in any way,” the city mayor added.
On the other hand, the PNP also questioned why the phone signal jamming extended to other areas aside from specific areas it identified.
“The Site Task Group (STG) Dinagyang specified areas sa Iloilo City…dira sa mga judging areas or kun diin lang pagahiwaton ang mga activities,” said STG Dinagyang spokesperson, Police Captain Julieta Sequio.
Police Brigadier General Leo Francisco, director of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), also could not explain what happened.
“I specifically requested only the city of Iloilo so may mga towers siguro…ang makapag-explain lang niyan ay ang NTC. Hindi ko ma-explain kung bakit ganun kalawak ang shutdown,” he said.
According to Francisco, the shutdown of the phone signal in a certain place at a certain time has been a practice for events like the Dinagyang Festival, and this has been proven to be effective in averting terrorist attacks.
As approved by NTC, the signal shutdown was supposed to cover only Plaza Libertad, Freedom Grandstand, Plazoleta Gay, provincial capitol, portion of the Iloilo Terminal Market, Robinsons Place mall, and Ortiz Street, City Proper from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. during the Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan on Jan. 21 and Dagyang sa Barangay tribes competition on Jan. 22
Also, on Jan. 21, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m., signal shutdown should have only covered SM City Iloilo, Atria Park District and Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao district for the Dinagyang Ilomination and Floats Parade of Lights.
“As much as possible kon pwede lang gani, indi kami tani magsugot sina nga may signal jamming mo. Galing tungod sang pangabay sang police nag-agree kami eh kay, ti, for security reason,” Duron said.
But he also stressed that the SP only approved upon the request of the PNP, “Kon kis-a basi mabasulan ta pa. ‘Damn if you do, damn if you don’t.’ Kon may matabu basulon kita,” the city councilor added.
Meanwhile, many residents in areas supposed to be beyond the signal shutdown expressed disappointment and ire on social media. Even food delivery riders were affected and had low income during Dinagyang.
“Wala kami sang signal. Amo na mabudlay kay indi kami maka-receive sang booking kag indi ka man makadul-ong sang booking. Ti, zero, ma’am, eh, pierde gid kami,” food delivery rider Edson Nofable of Banate, Iloilo told Panay News.
Another food delivery rider, Alexander Ayona of Barangay Sambag, Jaro district, shared the same sentiment.
He said because of the signal jamming, they could hardly bring home an average income per day which is P1,000 to P1,500. (With reports from Ime Sornito and Rhenjie Marie Calantas)/PN
