ILOILO City – For the past several years, mobile phone services were suspended during the two-day highlights of the Dinagyang Festival as part of security measures.
For Dinagyang 2023, “We will take the advice or opinion of experts, especially the police,” said Councilor Romel Duron, chairman of the committee on transportation and public utilities of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).
The city council passed a resolution inviting telecommunication companies, the Philippine National Police and Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI) to present their views on the blocking of phone signals during the Dinagyang festivities.
Duron’s committee hearing on this is on Dec. 15, 10 a.m., at the SP conference room.
“If they can convince us nga may threat sa gihapon like in the past, kay ti anyway para man ‘ni sa kaayuhan sang tanan, sometimes we have to give up some of our privileges and diutay naton nga convenience,” Duron said.
However, he acknowledged there could be emergencies where communication is important.
Duron recalled the previous Dinagyang – Councilor Alan Zaldivar had a medical situation but could not use his phone to seek help.
He also said phone signal is needed to do Dinagyang live feeds on social media.
“Ang means of communication daan subong through cell phone. Ang iban ang sa coverage nila gagamit sila cell phone. Millions will be watching so nami gid tani kon damu ang live coverage,” said Duron.
In the 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 editions of Dinagyang, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) approved the police’s request for mobile phone signal jamming.
Explaining the phone signal jamming, NTC said terrorists could detonate improvised explosive devices using cell phone signals.
“Daw obsolete naman na gani ang using cell phone as detonator. Subong ‘ya ang drones na. So amo na ang aton bantayan, one way of securing the activities,” said Duron./PN
