BY MA. THERESA LADIAO
ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) has proposed the implementation of mobile phone signal jamming during the Dinagyang Festival 2025 to enhance public safety and prevent potential threats.
Police Major Shella Mae Sangrines, ICPO spokesperson, disclosed that a formal request was submitted to the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI) on November 4, 2024.
The IFFI has yet to issue a response.
The proposed measure would involve selective signal jamming in specific areas and timeframes, targeting possible threats involving mobile devices.
“If the request is not approved, we will still ensure the security and peace during the Dinagyang Festival,” Major Sangrines assured.
If granted, further discussions will identify the precise locations and schedules for implementing the measure.
The ICPO emphasized that signal jamming is a precaution against potential sabotage or attacks that could exploit mobile signals.
In past editions of the festival, similar requests were denied by the Iloilo City Government. Despite this, the ICPO remains committed to ensuring the safety of the thousands of locals and tourists expected to attend the globally renowned cultural and religious celebration.
The Dinagyang Festival, a hallmark of Iloilo City, showcases vibrant performances and deep-rooted religious traditions, drawing national and international attention. Authorities view public safety as paramount to the event’s success.
In the 2024 Dinagyang, there was no signal shutdown. The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) rejected the request from the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) for a temporary mobile signal shutdown during the highlights of the festival.
“The shutdown of cellular network services in certain areas is not feasible due to the lack of necessary equipment,” explained the SP committee on police, public safety, order, and security.
The PRO-6 had argued that the signal shutdown during the festivities was a critical measure to preempt any terrorist incidents using improvised explosive devices and to prevent a repeat of the bombing that occurred in Marawi City in December 2023.
Mayor Jerry Treñas opposed the proposed signal jamming last year. He recalled how the mobile phone signal jamming by telecommunications networks during the January 2023 Dinagyang affected not just Iloilo City but also neighboring towns in Iloilo province.
The disruption led to significant public complaints, particularly from individuals unable to stream the Dinagyang tribes’ competition on social media due to poor signal reception./PN