Iloilo wraps up Dinagyang with zero major incidents
ILOILO CITY—One of the Philippines’ largest cultural street festivals concluded over the weekend without major security or safety incidents, as local authorities mounted what officials described as one of the most extensive interagency operations in recent years for Dinagyang Festival 2026.
According to a final situational report released by the Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center on Monday, a total of 3,887 personnel and 347 vehicles were deployed across the city on Jan. 25 alone, covering crowd control, traffic management, medical response, fire safety and disaster preparedness.
The operational period ran from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., extending into the early hours on Monday as postevent monitoring continued. Despite moderate to heavy foot traffic at major venues, no major incidents were recorded.
Emergency responders attended to 24 patients, mostly for heat exhaustion, dizziness, fainting and minor injuries—cases that were promptly treated on site or referred to nearby hospitals.
Crowd estimates from the Iloilo City Police Office showed how the festival stretched urban capacity without overwhelming emergency systems.
The Dinagyang Awarding Ceremony at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand drew about 26,000 people, while food festival sites across the city attracted crowds ranging from 21,500 to 35,000.
Evening concerts and public celebrations added tens of thousands more to the mix.
