ILOILO CITY — Telecommunication signal service will be shut off as part of the security measures by the Philippine National Police (PNP) from January 26 to 27 in time for the remaining two-day highlights of the Dinagyang Festival.
Senior Supt. Martin Defensor, director of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), during a press conference on Wednesday, said the signal shutoff will cover the one-kilometer radius from the route of the parade. Signals will no longer be available for telecommunication networks starting 6 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Meanwhile, Patrick Gloria, Globe Telecom director for external affairs for Visayas and Mindanao, said while they would incur losses due to the shutoff, yet safety is more important.
“If the PNP (Philippine National Police) says we will shut off because of safety purposes, we will comply because we will not try to gamble the safety of the people,” he said.
The move means that all cellular data will be stopped. However, wired or Wi-Fi will not be affected.
He clarified that while there is a signal shutoff, indoor signals would still be available as long as they are not too close to the area where it is being implemented.
Gloria said that should they wanted to communicate, they should use a wired or WiFi connection.
