Photo courtesy of Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Iloilo City deployed thousands of personnel and hundreds of vehicles to secure Dinagyang 2026, one of the country’s largest cultural festivals, as crowds swelled over the opening weekend.
Authorities said more than 4,300 security and emergency responders were mobilized to manage traffic, crowd control, and public safety during the festivities.
The city raised its alert status to Blue Alert on Saturday, Jan. 24, placing emergency teams on standby around the clock at major festival venues.
Festival events drew thousands of spectators, with roughly 3,000 attending the Festive Parade Sponsor’s Mardi Gras and up to 1,000 at the city’s Food Fest, while total crowd movement for the day reached an estimated 7,000 people.
Emergency medical units attended to five cases, including dizziness, high blood pressure, seizure, and breathing difficulties, with all patients stabilized or transferred to hospitals for further care.
Security operations included police assistance desks, bag inspections, mobile patrols, and simulation drills for potential bomb or shooting scenarios, while city teams also handled sanitation, portable toilets, and electrical safety at festival sites.
City officials urged festivalgoers to follow safety advisories, stay hydrated, and cooperate with authorities, noting that vigilance will continue through Sunday as Dinagyang reaches its peak.
