Should the Iloilo City Government grant the request of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), loss of telecommunication network signal in parts of Iloilo City during the celebration of Dinagyang Festival 2026 is expected.

ICPO sent a request to the Office of the Mayor in November 2025, through the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. 

“Ang signal alone or mga cellphones is wala itong problema. But maaari siyang magamit upang ma-compromise ang ating seguridad,” according to Major Shella Mae Sangrines, spokesperson of the ICPO.

GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas tried to seek a statement from Mayor Raisa Treñas on the request, but her spokesperson said, in a message, that the Local Government Unit will issue a statement.

Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna could not give a statement either, as he has not received any request yet for discussion at the Committee on Police, Public Safety, Order and Security which he chairs.

Atty. Deo Virgil Tan, legal counsel of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) 6, did not also give an opinion as there is no formal request yet that reached his office. But based on his past statements, telcos do not have a signal jammer because this is reportedly illegal.

What NTC can do is order the telcos to shut down cellsites covering venue areas of the festivity.

However, signal jamming poses challenges in the event of emergency situations.

“Mahirap talaga for emergency response not only for the event but sa pangkabuuan,” Darwin Joemil Papa, head of the Disaster Response Division of the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

Aside from emergency, signal jamming affects livelihood severely. One of livelihood opportunities affected in the past is the delivery of food and other products.

Delivery riders reportedly dealt with tremendous challenges during the signal shutdown in the Dinagyang Festival 2023.

“Once na maghatid kami sa city, gumagamit lang kami ng wi-fi [wireless fidelity] bago mag-drop off. Bumabalik din kami sa ano… sobrang hirap talaga,” Joemarie Anastacio, a delivery rider, said.

“Kon yun ang pinagdaanan namin noong taong 2023, ganun pa rin siguro ang mararanasan namin ngayon,” Novie Sam Amojedo, another delivery rider, said.

ICPO pointed out whether there is signal jamming or none, public safety during the festivity has been assured.