ILOILO City – With up to 50,000 people expected to converge here for the peak of the Dinagyang Festival next week, authorities have placed the city under red alert status, mobilizing 655 disaster response personnel as they brace for high-risk scenarios ranging from fires and extreme heat to crowd surges and possible bomb threats.
The Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) said the heightened alert reflects the scale of the projected festival crowds and the concentration of activities in densely populated areas, particularly around three major judging venues.
“We have four priority risks that we are really preparing for,” said CDRRMO Disaster Response Division chief Darwin Joemil Papa.
Crowd estimates could reach 50,000 overall, he said, with more than 30,000 spectators expected during the festival highlights alone on January 24 (Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan competition) and January 25 (Ati tribes contest).
Aside from ticket holders inside the judging areas, thousands more are anticipated to line nearby streets to watch the performances, adding pressure to already congested zones.
“Many of those who don’t have tickets usually stay along the streets to watch,” Papa said.
Fire remains the top hazard identified by the CDRRMO, especially because some judging areas are located close to residential communities.
Papa noted that fire incidents have occurred in past festivals, including last year.
“First and foremost, fire is always a risk. It is one of the top hazards we are looking at, especially since Judging Areas 2 and 3 are very near residential areas,” he said.
Judging Area 3, which is the Iloilo Sports Complex in La Paz district, saw a few fire incidents in the past. Judging Area 2 is in the vicinity of Gaisano mall.
Extreme heat is another major concern, even with forecasts of slightly cooler weather. Papa warned that high heat and ultraviolet exposure could still trigger medical emergencies among performers and spectators.
That’s why we are closely monitoring the possibility of people experiencing dizziness or collapsing — not only performers, but also spectators—because of the heat,” he said.
Authorities are also closely watching crowd movement, particularly after performances end, when large numbers of people tend to leave venues simultaneously.
“Next is mass movement or the possibility of crowding and pushing, especially after performances end. For Kasadyahan, performances usually end in the evening, and most spectators rush to go home or head to food areas. Since the final judging area is a bit far from the food festival sites, there is a high chance of people flocking all at once, which is something we are watching closely for both Saturday and Sunday,” Papa said.
Another risk flagged by the CDRRMO is the possibility of bomb threats, even if these turn out to be hoaxes. Papa said such threats can still trigger panic and pose serious dangers to public safety.
“We are very vigilant about the possibility of bomb threats. We are not expecting any real incident, but we cannot rule out prank threats. We experienced many bomb threats last year, and even if these are just jokes or made by intoxicated individuals, the panic they cause can be very dangerous,” he said.
In response to these risks, the city has significantly increased personnel and resources, particularly in high-density areas.
“That’s why you will notice a big increase in deployment, particularly in the three judging areas. We have raised the number of resources to be deployed in these areas to ensure we are prepared for any emergency,” Papa said.
The CDRRMO said it is working closely with the police, the Bureau of Fire Protection, medical teams, and other response units to ensure rapid action during emergencies, while urging festival-goers to stay alert, follow safety instructions, and immediately report any suspicious activity as Dinagyang celebrations reach their peak./PN
