By: Emme Rose Santiagudo
ILOILO City Mayor Jose Espinosa III assured the public that the new Freedom Grandstand in Muelle Loney, City Proper, Iloilo City is 90% ready for the 2019 Dinagyang Festival.
Espinosa said the construction of the new Freedom Grandstand is already on its final stage.
Between 80 to 90% nga tapos na kag for sure mausar gid sa Dinagyang and sa subong mga finishing touches na lang ang ila ginaubra, he said.
Compared to the old Freedom Grandstand, the seating capacity of the new Freedom Grandstand is double, according to Espinosa.
It will be double kay originally ang grandstand without extension 900 seats lang, and subong ang bag-o maka-seat sang 2,000 people, Espinosa said.
Recently, Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc (IDFI) Ramon Cua Locsin announced that 400 seats in the new Freedom Grandstand are reserved for Japanese tourists who will witness the highlights of the Dinagyang Festival.
Department of Tourism (DOT)-6 Regional Director Helen Catalbas said the tourists will board MV Pacific Venus, a cruise ship from Japan.
Catalbas emphasized that the visit is significant considering the fact that Iloilo City has passed the high standards of Japanese tourists.
Meanwhile, the IDFI ticket committee announced that tickets for the Freedom Grandstand are sold out as of December 28, 2018.
On the other hand, Espinosa said that they are still finalizing for the final date for the inauguration of the new Freedom Grandstand,
Wala pa date but supposedly may year-end activity tani kon nahingagaw tapos but indi ko man gusto madisrupt ang construction kay kinahanglan sige-sige, Espinosa said.