ILOILO City – Bracing for a surge in crowds, power use, and commercial activity during this hectic Dinagyang Festival week, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) – Iloilo City has placed six areas in Molo and City Proper districts under heightened fire monitoring after identifying them as recurring fire hotspots during past celebrations.
Iloilo City Fire Marshal Melanie Habawel said the areas were flagged based on records of previous Dinagyang-related fire incidents, prompting the BFP to intensify preventive and monitoring measures this year.
“These areas have a history of fire cases, especially during big festivities when there is an increase in electrical usage, cooking activities, and crowd movement. That is why we are giving them special attention this Dinagyang season,” Habawel said.
Habawel clarified that fire safety operations during the festival were carefully planned to avoid stripping other parts of the city of emergency protection, stressing that not all fire trucks were deployed to Dinagyang activity centers.
“We did not commit all our fire trucks to the Dinagyang venues. We deliberately left some units on standby at fire stations so we can immediately respond to any fire incident anywhere in the city,” she explained. “We want to make sure that even if an incident happens outside the festival area, we are still capable of responding without delay.”
To further strengthen response capability, the BFP ramped up coordination with volunteer fire groups and civic responders to ensure additional manpower and equipment can be mobilized quickly if needed.
“We have close coordination with the Federation of Volunteer Fire Brigades and the Iloilo Citizens Action Group. This coordination allows us to mobilize additional manpower and equipment quickly if the situation requires it,” Habawel said, adding that joint communication protocols are already in place throughout the Dinagyang period.
The fire marshal also issued a strong reminder to residents and business owners, particularly those located near festival routes and activity centers, to strictly observe fire safety precautions.
“We strongly advise everyone to check their electrical connections, avoid overloading outlets, and make sure all appliances are unplugged before leaving their homes or establishments,” Habawel said. “Most fires start from small lapses, and these can be prevented if people are cautious.”
Habawel noted that fire incidents during previous Dinagyang celebrations underscored the need for aggressive prevention efforts, saying public cooperation remains crucial to keeping the festival safe.
“Dinagyang is a time of joy and celebration, but safety should always come first. Our goal is zero fire incidents, and we can only achieve that if the public works with us,” she added.
The BFP assured residents and festivalgoers that fire personnel and equipment will remain on high alert throughout the Dinagyang season to ensure a safe and incident-free celebration./PN
