Mayor Jerry Treñas has turned down the request of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) to jam mobile phone signals during the Dinagyang Festival 2025 celebration.
“We regret to inform you that we cannot accommodate your request,” Treñas stated in his letter to ICPO director Police Colonel Kim Legada.
ICPO requested to implement signal jamming in select areas of the city on Saturday (Jan. 25) and and Sunday (Jan. 26) as part of its security measures.
Treñas said he understands the intention of ICPO, but mobile communication is “necessary” for “personal interactions, ensuring the smoothness of business transactions, promptness of emergency services, and efficiency of public safety measures” during the two-day highlights of the festival.
According to the mayor, “the need to maintain mobile communications far outweighs the benefits of signal jamming.”
“We trust that your police force is more than capable of maintaining the safety of our people and the orderliness of our festivities even without the implementation of signal jamming measures in the city,” said Treñas.
Last year, the city government also rejected ICPO’s request to temporarily shut down mobile phone signals during Dinagyang’s major events.IMT
