Telco backs Dinagyang, assists Sto. Niño devotees

A telecommunications company supported the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City by providing first aid services to the devotees and conducting cleanup activity during and after the Mardi Gras.

Employees of Smart and PLDT and members of the Philippine Red Cross Iloilo chapter installed first aid stations along the parade route. The volunteers treated minor injuries and distributed drinking water and medicines.

And in support of the city’s declaration to make Dinagyang a “litter-free” festival, Smart organized a post-event cleanup.

Employee-volunteers collected garbage and cleaned the road after the festival.

Smart also partnered with travel blog site habagatcentral.com and local news site thedailyguardian.net for people worldwide to witness the festival through Smart’s Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology set up at the Iloilo Sports Complex where the parade ended.

Before the festivities began, Smart strengthened the Iloilo LGUs’ capability to prepare for disasters like typhoons and floods.

In cooperation with the Department of Science and Technology Region 6, Smart inaugurated five Automated Rain Gauges (ARGs) installed in key locations across Iloilo. These ARGs will collect rainfall data and transmit data through Smart SIM to DOST for further study.

Smart also turned over funds to help the DOST install Automated Water Level Sensors in three municipalities located within the Tigum-Aganan River System.

The Dinagyang Festival, which pays homage to the Sto. Niño and showcases Ilonggo culture, is one of the most awaited event by locals and tourists . This year, the feast attracted more than one million spectators, according to city officials.