No Signal Shutdown in Cebu City for Sinulog 2023; “No-Fly Zone” for Drones, Choppers During Grand Parade

No temporary mobile phone signal shutdown will be imposed upon Cebu City during the 458th Fiesta Señor and Sinulog Festival activities, Cebu City mayor Michael Rama said on Tuesday, January 10.

This comes as the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) approved in a memorandum the recommendation of the Police Regional Office VII (PRO-7) of imposing a signal shutdown during the Sinulog festivities to avoid untoward incidents and maintain peace and order during the 458th Fiesta Señor and Sinulog Festival celebrations.

NTC first gave the go signal for law enforcement agencies in Cebu to jam mobile phone signals in areas where Fiesta Señor and the Sinulog Festival activities will occur, with the shutdown commencing at different times on January 14 and 15.

Meanwhile, PRO-7 Director Jerry Bearis also said on Tuesday that while the NTC approved of their recommendation, the final say for the implementation of the temporary signal shutdown still falls in the hands of the Cebu City government and mayor Michael Rama.

Rama opposed the plans to have a signal shutdown this weekend, requesting PRO-7 to reconsider their recommendations in an interview with dyHP.

Rama said he is disappointed with the recommendation, adding that no consultations between the police force and the city government were made.

Meanwhile, Cebu City will become a “no-fly zone” for drones and helicopters during the Sinulog Grand Parade on Sunday, January 15, without the authorization of Police Regional Office-7 director Brigadier General Jerry Bearis.

According to Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) director Col. Ireneo Dalogdog, the implementation of the prohibition of the flying of drones and choppers is part of the security measure of the police force to ensure peace and order during the grand parade, saying that drones may be used to wreak havoc during the festivities as they may be tweaked to have the capability to carry improvised explosive device (IEDs) as one reason.

Drones have been used by the Ukrainian military to drop mortar shells onto Russian targets in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (GFB)