A total of 7,257 security personnel and volunteers have been deployed to secure the Dinagyang Festival 2025, following a send-off ceremony held at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand on Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 22.
“We are here to start the weeklong security coverage for the best tourism event in the country, the Dinagyang Festival. The security contingent gathered not just as a show of force but to underscore their commitment to ensure the security and safety of this celebration,” Police Regional Office- Western Visayas (PRO6) director Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, also the task group Dinagyang commander, said in his message.
Wanky said they would serve as security contingents to galvanize “control in traffic management, emergency response, and crime prevention and suppression.”
Personnel will be stationed at key locations such as hotels, tourist spots, and public areas through beat and mobile patrols, motorcycle units, advanced command posts, and police assistance desks.
The task group will also mobilize volunteer groups and force multipliers, conduct intelligence gathering, reinforce border checkpoints, and continuously monitor security strategies.
The region’s top cop said the festival is expected to attract more devotees, spectators, revelers, and tourists since it won the Aliwan Festival, a completion of festivals in the country, last year.
And since it is political season, more important personalities are expected to witness the event.
Iloilo City Police Office director Col. Kim Legada, the site task group commander, also recognized the crucial role of augmented personnel in ensuring the safety of the festival.
“This festival is not only a celebration of our rich culture and heritage but also a testament to the resilience, discipline, and unity of the Ilonggo people. As we embark on this mission, it is our collective responsibility to protect this legacy and provide an environment where the spirit of the festival can flourish in peace and harmony,” he said in his opening message.
The festival’s highlights are scheduled from Jan. 24 to 26.
Last year’s event drew around 500,000 attendees.Perla Lena/PNA
