ILOILO City – Dinagyang Festival tourists domestic and foreign should conduct themselves responsibly, especially this weekend, Jan. 27 to 28, during the festival highlights.
The Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI), organizer of Dinagyang, highlighted the need for responsible behavior due to the expected influx of tourists. Its president Allan Ryan Tan advised visitors to be mindful of their environment, safeguard their belongings, and refrain from littering.
There will be designated garbage disposal areas in four Dinagyang performance judging locations: Freedom Grandstand, Iloilo Provincial Capitol, Mabini-Delgado Street, and Quezon-Ledesma Street. IFFI is collaborating with Coca-Cola company to set up recycling areas for bottled water and drinks.
The IFFI anticipates a considerable increase in tourist arrivals compared to Dinagyang 2023.
Last year, more than 100,000 spectators attended the ILOmination event in Mandurriao district. This year, an even larger audience is expected this Friday, Jan. 26. ILOmination is a free, non-ticketed event.
Furthermore, Tan expects over 50,000 people in the downtown area, citing last year’s estimated attendance of at least 50,000.
He predicts higher attendance at major events aside from ILOmination such as Sadsad sa Calle Real, Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan, and the ati-ati tribe competitions, with many locals from the province of Iloilo expected to support their tribes.
SAFETY ANED SECURITY
Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas has issued Executive Order 010, establishing safety and security measures for the Dinagyang Festival. This order aims to ensure peace and order, safeguarding the interests of motorists, residents, VIPs, guests, tourists, and spectators.
The primary goal is to ensure the safety of all involved and maintain public order during this significant cultural event.
Treñas also ordered the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) to ensure the implementation of the following preventive measures:
* Ensure that respect for human rights shall be strictly observed at all times.
* Be guided by the revised Philippine National Police Operational Procedures.
* During the conduct of police operations, the PNP shall perform the lead role while the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) component will perform the support role.
* Prohibit the display of any and all political slogans or propaganda materials, and anti-government slogans in any form.
* Issuance/grant of rally permit for holding protest rallies for both civilians and government-side groups shall be temporarily suspended during the conduct of 2024 Dinagyang Festival activities.
* Ensure that there will be no political colors during the said festivities.
* Should there be any unauthorized rallies or the likes that will emerge, the local government will be on-board to negotiate with the rallyists/protesters.
* Enforce the no smearing of faces with the use of grease or mud, prohibition on carrying of bottles, backpacks except if clear or see-through, pointed barbecue sticks and similar items in all activity areas, judging areas, food kiosks/food festival premises-including the immediate vicinity of these areas.
* Ensure that use of sound systems and other devices/equipment producing loud noise shall only be allowed until 11 p.m. in the main activity areas of the Dinagyang celebration. Only activities and events approved by the city government, IFFI and its partners shall be allowed use of these sound equipment beyond the proscription.
* Choke-and-checkpoints on every entry center of activities shall be established and implemented
* Strictly implement the following City Ordinances: Urinating in Public Places, Anti-Littering, Anti Smoking, and Curfew for Minors.
* Minors accompanied by their guardians or parents during the festival activities will be allowed.
For Dinagyang revelers, the city government has the following reminders/suggestions:
* Wear comfortable clothes and protect yourself from the heat.
* Stay hydrated.
* Take care of your belongings.
* Watch over your children closely.
* Be aware of the locations of police assistance and first aid booths.
* Familiarize the route for Dinagyang Festival 2024.
* Backpacks, big luggage, bladed weapons, pointed sticks, buckled knives, and glass bottles will be banned.
The ICPO, meanwhile, has the following child safety guidelines:
* Set a meeting place for the child to go when he/she gets lost.
* Use identification cards, bracelets, or tags with contact Information.
* Make sure the child knows his/her name and parents’ contact information.
* Pair each child with a friend or sibling.
* Wear bright colors to be easily seen in the crowd.
* Bring a recent photo of the child. Keep a good watch on the child and hold hands in crowded places
* Teach the child about “stranger danger” and remind him/her to not to talk or go with strangers.
* Identify and teach the child to go to the nearest police assistance desk.
PROHIBITED ACTS AND ACTIVITIES
* Carrying glass containers/bottles of liquor, soda or other beverages while roaming around the activity areas.
* Carrying firearms and other deadly weapons (for purposes of implementation, pointed barbecue sticks shall be included in the proscription).
* No smoking (except in designated areas).
* No flying of drones (except those who have obtained appropriate authority from the IFFI and the Police Regional Office 6).
* Lighting of firecrackers and similar pyrotechnics.
* Prank jokes (i.e. bomb jokes) which pose threat to the safety of the people or will likely cause mass alarm.
* Conduct of political rallies and anti-government protests under the guise of merry-making activity.
Also, the sale and consumption in public of alcoholic beverages shall be allowed from 8 a.m. until 2 a.m. only from Jan. 25 to Jan. 28.
Across all settings, sale and consumption shall be subject to existing restrictions as imposed by Local Ordinances such as the Liquor Ban for Minors./PN
