Ilonggos are told to brace for a long walk this coming Friday as more roads will be closed for the opening salvo of the Dinagyang Festival.

“Expect traffic congestion on Friday, and that is the rush hour for outbound vehicles. Also, expect the volume of vehicles coming into the city for those who would like to watch the opening salvo,” Iloilo City Traffic Management Unit head Uldarico Garbanzos said in an interview Monday.

Garbanzos said the routes covered by the opening salvo of the “Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan” on Jan. 5 will cover judging areas on Mabini Delgado and Ledesma-Quezon streets.

The Kasadyahan opening salvo only covered judging areas at the Freedom Grandstand facing the Iloilo River along the Muelle Loney area and the Provincial Capitol.

Garbanzos said they would only maintain emergency lanes at the Muelle Loney, Laguda, Esplanade 5 on Nabitasan, and Rizal Street.

Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI) executive director Joyce Clavecillas said the opening salvo will be joined by nine tribes for the Ati Tribes competition, five tribes for the Sadsad sa Calle Real, and seven tribes for the Dinagyang ILOmination street dance competition.

The 15 contenders for the Miss Iloilo title would also make an appearance before the performances of the tribes.

Clavecillas said the opening salvo would showcase their preparations for the actual festival on Jan.27-28.

“We are a bit jam-packed because we have four major events and competitions. We have the Kasadyahan, we have the Sadsad sa Calle Real, and we have the Dinagyang ILOmination, and we have the Ati Tribes competition,” she added. (PNA)