ILOILO City – The performance routes of participating tribes in the January 2020 edition of Dinagyang Festival are priority areas in the road clearing operation of the city government.
The main targets of the clearing are electric poles and dangling electricity, telephone and cable television wires.
The city government is currently surveying the routes and taking note of the poles and wires to be removed, said Engineer Randy Pastolero, executive assistant for power of Mayor Jerry Treñas.
The Iloilo Utilities Group (IUG), composed of electric, cable and telecommunications companies that own the poles and wires, will create an action plan, said Pastolero.
“The mayor’s instruction is limpyuhon ini tanan,” he added.
Pastolero, however, acknowledged that the logistics needed is massive, thus the clearing would be guided by priorities to be identified by the IUG.
The goal, though, is to finish the clearing by the end of this year.
“Definitely gina-pressure gid naton ang telcos, Panay Electric Co. (PECO) and cable television companies to work on this,” said Pastolero.
An initial count showed 140 “stranded” poles for relocation, said Pastolero, and of these, 106 belonged to telcos while 34 to PECO.
The clearing operation is part of the city government’s effort to “level up” the spectators’ Dinagyang Festival experience, said Treñas.
“We deserve a colorful and exciting celebration of our religion and rich culture,” he stressed.
Dinagyang is the Hiligaynon word for revelry or merrymaking. The festival is known for its participants’ impressive choreography and striking costumes that reflect Ilonggo ingenuity, craftsmanship and artistry.
The highlight of the festival is on Jan. 26, 2020 – the tribes competition.
Dinagyang has been voted the “best tourism event” three times in a row – 2006, 2007 and 2008 – by the Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines.
Treñas appealed for the cooperation of all stakeholders to make Dinagyang 2020 better.
“Your involvement will mean so much,” he stressed.
The city government has partnered with the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI) for the staging of the 51st edition of Dinagyang.
The IFFI bared the following Dinagyang 2020 activities:
* Iloilo Dinagyang Art Festival – Jan. 18 to 25
* Ilonggo Food Festival – Jan. 23 to 26
* Miss Iloilo 2020 – Jan. 24
* Tambor Trumpa Martsa Musika – Jan. 24
* fluvial and solemn foot procession – Jan. 24
* Floats Parade of Lights – Jan. 24
* fireworks display – Jan. 24
* Dinagyang sa Calle Real – Jan. 25
* Festive Parade Sponsors Mardi Gras – Jan. 25
* religious sadsad – Jan. 25
* Dinagyang 360° – Jan. 26
Dinagyang Festival started in 1967. A replica of the Santo Niño de Cebu was brought from Cebu to the San Jose de Placer Church. The image was enthusiastically received by the Ilonggos who danced on the streets of Iloilo City./PN
