Personnel deployed to ensure safety, food security

By Paulo Loreto Lim

Starting Sunday, January 21, around 3,000 police officers and other security personnel will be deployed throughout Iloilo City for the annual Dinagyang Festival, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

A gun ban will be implemented between January 23 and 28; cellular phone networks will be shut down within a three-kilometer radius of event venues from January 27 to 28; and backpacks, bladed weapons, and barbeque sticks will be barred during festival highlights, scheduled from January 26 to 28.

Beyond Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) and the Iloilo City Police Office, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine Army, and other security volunteer groups will be positioned at various areas around the city, including Plaza Libertad, the Freedom Grandstand, the Iloilo River Esplanade, among other spots.

Meanwhile, the Iloilo City Health Office (CHO) will also have 14 sanitation inspectors checking on food vendor compliance.

According to Iloilo City Health Officer, Dr. Bernardo Caspe, inspectors will check sanitation permits and health cards of the various vendors.

He added, inspectors will also check food preparation in order to avoid cases of food poisoning.

Kiosks that fail to meet the standards will be removed./PLL, WDJ