BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO City – A send-off ceremony for the 7,215-strong Site Task Group Dinagyang composed of members of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, Bureau of Fire Protection, Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO), barangay officials, and other force multipliers was held yesterday at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand.
“We have been preparing for this activity….we will see to it that our commitment to the people of Iloilo City, the Dinagyang Festival will be successful,” said Police Brigadier General Leo Francisco, director of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
The security personnel came from various police units across Western Visayas.
Francisco then praised the successful celebrations of the MassKara Festival in Bacolod City and Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan, adding that no crime was recorded due to the vigilance of the authorities.
“Given the experiences we had during the MassKara Festival in Bacolod City and the recently concluded Ati-Atihan Festival in Aklan, we have enough preparation, enough personnel, enough resources to see to it the public safety of all visitors, both local and foreign, in the city of Iloilo,” Francisco added.
Meanwhile, PRO-6 is aiming zero major incidents during this year’s festival.
“Nanawagan tayo sa mga tao na pupunta sa festival na mag-celebrate ng Dinagyang ng walang gulo. Maraming pulis sa paligid at may mga personnel tayo na naka-civilian to watch over lawless elements na magsabotahe ng ating activity,” said Francisco./PN
