The city government has raised its budget for various festivals in 2025 to PHP50 million, up from last year’s PHP40 million, with funds coursed through the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI).
Mayor Jerry Treñas, in a press conference on Monday, emphasized the need for a higher allocation due to the growing scale of festivals held in the city.
The biggest of these is the Dinagyang Festival, where various minor events are held prior to the highlights every fourth weekend of January.
“Dinagyang has even become the bigger fiesta compared to the Jaro fiesta. For the seven days when we were celebrating Dinagyang, MORE Power (More Electric and Power Corporation) was getting an additional four megawatts of power demand every day due to a lot of events,” the mayor said.
Preparations for the 2026 Dinagyang Festival will begin in the last quarter of 2025, requiring early fund releases for participating schools and barangays.
Treñas also lauded the IFFI for its role in organizing the recent five-day Chinese New Year celebration, which concluded on Saturday.
Other major festivals in the city include the Paraw Regatta Festival in March, the Festival of Food in April, the Bike Festival in July, and the Art Festival in October. (PNA)
