BY MARY JOY CAVAÑAS
ILOILO City – A week before the highlights of the Dinagyang Festival 2024, there is still no definite decision yet as to whether or not there will be a mobile phone signal shutdown.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) committee on public safety convened on Thursday, Jan. 18, at the SP session hall to discuss Police Regional Office 6’s (PRO-6) proposal to temporarily disable cellular network signal in specific areas in the city during key Dinagyang events.
Among those who attended the public consultation were Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) director Colonel Joeresty Coronica, PRO-6 Regional Operations Management Division chief Colonel Gilbert Gorero, National Telecommunications Commission Region 6 director Jovita Chongco, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Iloilo president Fulbert Woo, and representatives from major telecommunciation companies, among others.
The hearing delved into the potential impacts and necessity of the proposed shutdown, sparking discussions on public safety and event management during Dinagyang Festival.
“Based on the discussion that we have (with Iloilo City Council), our request cannot be granted considering that they don’t have (signal jamming) device to be placed in specific areas, based on the request that we have made, like in judging areas at mga lugar na kung saan mayroong mga activities na gagawin,” Gorero said.
Gorero then clarified the difference between signal jamming and signal shutdown.
“Ang signal shutdown is different from signal jamming. Maghambal kita nga shutdown it means totally shutting down from all the telecommunication companies based on the available towers that they have. When you speak about signal jamming, ang mangyari neto it is not the signal source like telecommunication companies Smart, Globe but a device na pwedeng certain areas ija-jam ang signal,” he said.
Gorero added that they leave the signal shutdown decision to the SP.
He also said that the police will have an alternative option once their request for signal shutdown would be disapproved.
“When we speak about security, we are not only referring to the (signal) jam of the police, all other uniform service will be entertained and will be requested. One thing that we could promise, the PNP (Philippine National Police) and the Task Force Dinagyang 2024 will do the best to secure Dinagyang Festival even if hindi ma-grant ang aton request (for signal shutdown) in specific areas,” said Gorero.
Earlier, Mayor Jerry Treñas had said the Iloilo City Government will no longer implement a signal shutdown during the two-day highlights of the festival on Jan. 27 and 28.
There is no need for telecommunication companies to temporarily cut off mobile phone signals, he said.
The PRO-6, however, had appealed to the city government to reconsider the denial of a mobile phone signal shutdown.
Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor, PRO-6 director, clarified that the intention is not continuous signal jamming, which could have adverse effects on the economy of the city.
Instead, the regional police proposed a focused, limited signals jamming during specific festival highlights, he said./PN
