BACOLOD City — The Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) has deployed 300 police personnel to strengthen security operations for the Dinagyang Festival 2026 in Iloilo City, part of intensified efforts to maintain peace and order during one of the country’s largest cultural celebrations.
The deployment was formalized during a send-off ceremony on January 20 at the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOcPPO) Grandstand, Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr., Barangay Estefania, Bacolod City.
The ceremony was led by Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas C. Ibay, regional director of PRO-NIR, and attended by members of the command group, regional staff, and other officers and personnel.
The augmentation force will be on duty from January 22 to 26, supporting the security operations of Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) in Iloilo City.
Of the 300 personnel deployed, three are from the Regional Headquarters, 63 from the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), 69 from the NOcPPO, 65 from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB), and 100 newly graduated police officers from the Field Training Program (FTP) assigned to PRO-NIR.
Ibay said the deployment aims not only to reinforce security during the Dinagyang Festival but also to reciprocate the assistance previously extended by PRO-6 during the MassKara Festival in Bacolod.
He reminded the personnel to remain vigilant, prioritize their safety, and ensure the protection of festivalgoers throughout the celebration.
“While we expect full commitment in maintaining peace and order, every officer must return safe and sound. Your lives are as important as the people you are tasked to protect,” Ibay said.
PRO-NIR assured the public that the augmentation will not compromise security coverage across the Negros Island Region. The agency stressed that sufficient manpower, strategic deployment, and continuous monitoring remain in place to maintain stable and uninterrupted peace and order in the region.
Through this inter-regional deployment, PRO-NIR reaffirmed its commitment to cooperation, proactive security measures, and public safety, ensuring the orderly conduct of major cultural and tourism events while remaining ready to respond to any potential security concerns./PN
