Jaro braces for 18,000 pilgrims amid Candelaria Festival

ILOILO CITY — City officials here expect 15,000 to 18,000 pilgrims to gather at Jaro Plaza on Monday for the annual feast of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, the patroness of Western Visayas.

To manage the influx, the Iloilo City government will implement full-day road closures and deploy 149 officers to handle crowd control and security.

Officials said the measures are intended to maintain emergency lanes for medical response and manage traffic during the event, which coincides with the anniversary of the religious group Ang Dios Gugma.

“Large crowds are expected around Jaro Plaza, so these measures are necessary to prevent congestion and ensure the safety of the faithful,” said Uldarico Garbanzos, head of the Public Order and Safety Management Office.

The traditional procession will begin at the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral, passing through E. Lopez Street, M. Jaime, Commission Civil, and several other local landmarks before returning to the cathedral steps.

Streets surrounding the inner ring of Jaro Plaza will be closed to most vehicles from early morning until 8 p.m. 2 February.

Access to restricted areas will be limited to emergency vehicles, essential services, and accredited VIP transport. Public utility vehicles from Ungka and Tabuc Suba will be rerouted through Cabangbang and Benigno Aquino Avenue.

Lt. Col. Lindley Barrientos, deputy city director for administration of the Iloilo City Police Office, said assistance desks and screening areas will be established at major access points.