THE Iloilo City Council approved Thursday, January 9, 2020 a resolution that seeks to shut down all cellular phone networks during the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival on January 26.

Networks will be shut down starting 6 a.m. and until 2 p.m. of January 26.

Councilors who voted for the one-day shutdown were Julie Grace Baronda, Candice Tupas, Mandrie Malabor, Jojo Javellana, Ely Estante, Eduardo Peñaredondo, Jose Efrain Treñas and Lyndon Acap.

Liga president Irene Ong, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) president Leila Luntao, Councilors Rudolph Ganzon and Romel Duron have agreed for a two-day signal shutdown, which they said should start on January 24 until 25.

Councilor Alan Zaldivar, for his part, does not want a cellular shutdown, saying people may need it for emergency purposes.

It was later decided that phone signals will be put off by telcos on January 26. Those who will be affected are those within the three-kilometer radius from the main activity area of Dinagyang festival.

Among the areas to be affected are some parts of the Molo, Mandurriao, Jaro, Lapaz and Lapuz.

The Iloilo City district will also have no cellular signal since a large part of the old business district of Iloilo will be used for the parade. (SunStar Philippines)