ILOILO City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) approved a resolution recommending a telecommunications signal shutdown during the Dinagyang Festival for security reasons, but for one day only – on Jan. 26 which is the day for the ati tribes competition.
The shutdown may take effect from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. within a three-kilometer radius from the center of the competition, according to the city council.
In recent years, as a security precaution during Dinagyang, telecommunications companies were ordered to suspend their mobile phone services. Terrorists could detonate improvised explosive devices using cell phone signals, explained the National Telecommunications Commission and Philippine National Police.
For Dinagyang 2020, the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) originally requested two days signal shutdown – Jan. 25 and Jan. 26 – as recommended by the SP Committee on Communication and Public Information and Committee on Police, Fire, Penology, Public Safety and Security of the SP. City councillors, however, turned out to have various takes on the matter so it was put to a vote.
Seven (majority) of the SP members – Lyndon Acap, Dr. Candice Tupas, Eduardo Peñaredondo, Mandrie Malabor, Jay Treñas, Ely Estante, and Jojo Javellana – voted for a one-day shutdown only (Jan. 26).
Four councilors initially pushed for a two-day shutdown but later decided to abstain – Irene Ong, Leila Luntao, Rudolph Ganzon, and Julie Grace Baronda.
Only Councilor Allan Zaldivar voted for a no telecommunications shutdown.
Acap said a one-day shutdown is already reasonable. Jan. 26 is the day of the festival highlight (tribes competition) and a number of dignitaries are expected to grace the event.
Estante, on the other hand, said Jan. 25’s Dagyang sa Calle Real is just street dancing. The police could broaden its intelligence gathering and maximize its visibility to deter criminals, he stressed.
Estante also emphasized that communication is very important, especially during emergency situations.
In the 2019 edition of the festival, the telecommunications signal shutdown was for two days.
For his part, Treñas said, a shortened shutdown would give Dinagyang visitors the chance to share on social media their festival experience. This, he said, would further boost Dinagyang’s promotion.
Councilor Ganzon, however, said, “We cannot compromise our safety.”
Zaldivar, meanwhile, said, “If we shut down communication…it will be very difficult for us residents kon pananglitan nga may ara hitabo sa aton barangay kay wala kita komunikasyon nga magtawag sa police station.”/PN
