ILOILO City — Passenger and cargo sea travel between Iloilo and Guimaras will be temporarily suspended this Friday afternoon, January 23, as authorities secure maritime routes for the Dinagyang Festival fluvial procession, the Coast Guard Station (CGS) Iloilo announced.
In a travel advisory, acting commander of CGS-Iloilo Commodore Jan Terazona said the suspension will take effect from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., allowing the religious activity to proceed safely and without disruption.
The goal is “to ensure the safety, order, and smooth conduct of the Dinagyang fluvial procession.”
“Passengers are advised to plan their travel accordingly. Normal operations will resume immediately after the activity,” Terazona said.
The fluvial parade — one of the key religious events of the Dinagyang Festival — will be followed by a solemn foot procession from Muelle Loney Street to the San Jose de Placer Church at Plaza Libertad. This is expected to draw hundreds of devotees of the Señor Santo Niño carrying images of the Child Jesus.
Authorities noted that some devotees are expected to come from other parts of the country, prompting heightened coordination to ensure crowd and maritime safety./PN
