Execs say Dinagyang a success, showcase of Iloilo’s progress

ILOILO CITY—For several hours, mobile phones were rendered useless as selfie devices here as the city’s biggest festival, Dinagyang, unfolded.

Organizers and the province’s leaders celebrated the success of the festival, calling it a showcase of the city’s development.

Senior Supt. Remus Zacharias Canieso, Iloilo City police chief, on Friday said mobile phone services were shut down from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. for two days—Jan. 21 and 22—in downtown Iloilo, Mandurriao, Jaro, La Paz and the village of Obrero.

The country’s only two main telecommunications service providers, Globe and Smart, agreed to shut the service down for security measures.

Most improvised explosive devices rely on cellular phones as triggering devices.

Canieso said the Iloilo City police office and Dinagyang Foundation, the organizer of the festival, had requested the National Telecommunications Commission to direct the telecommunications companies to suspend mobile phone services.

“We apologize for the inconvenience but the security and safety of the public are our priorities,” Canieso said.

Canieso, in an earlier interview, said police had the suspension of mobile phone services was not among the initial plans of police although it was always an option.

But police decided to implement the measure just the same “to be one step ahead” of security threats even if the threats are “minimal.”

At least a million revelers, tourists and devotees filled the city streets on Saturday for the Kasadyahan regional cultural competition, which was part of the Dinagyang, and on Sunday for the Ati tribe dance contest.

Mobile phone services were also suspended in Cebu during the Sinulog Festival.