34 IHHRA members to join weeklong Dinagyang food fest
Thirty-four restaurants under the Iloilo Hotels Restaurants and Resorts Association (IHRRA) will participate in the weeklong food festival starting January 21-27, 2008 along Delgado Street.
IHRRA President Robert Ferrer said owners of the 34 restaurants already confirmed their participation to the food festival.
This the second time the association will hold a one- week food festival. IHRRA first held a weeklong festival in December 2007 during the “Christmas Kanta Ta” project of ABS-CBN. The television network has been the partner of the association in all its projects.
Ferrer said they decided to extend the food festival to one week this year due to public demand. He said it is a gamble and risk for them to hold a weeklong food festival but the restaurant owners are hopeful that the activity will be successful.
He added international and native cuisines will be found at the food festival area. In previous years, all kinds of barbecue from chicken to pork are the best sellers in all the kiosks. Ferrer also assured that foods sold at the food fest area are clean and delicious.
Meanwhile, John Nofuente, IHRRA’s past president, said they will try to convince Balay Kalan-an, one of their members to sell exotic foods at the food festival as one innovation and must try new delicacy during the food festival.
Moreover, Nofuente assures the safety and security of all the people who want to go to the food festival. Police personnel, both in uniform and plain clothes, will be deployed to the area. A K-9 dog from the Philippine Coast Guard will also be stationed as additional security measure.
Nofuente also said each restaurant is required to have a whistle. The whistle will serve as signal from the kiosk asking for police assistance in case there is trouble.
There is a standing order for the food sellers to cut the pointed part of the barbecue sticks before serving it to the customers or transfer the food in paper plates. Unruly customers could use the barbecue sticks as weapon, said Nofuente.
Two ambulances will be positioned in the area to cater the emergency health assistance of the people. Large crowd is expected tol gather during the food festival specifically in areas near the band. There will be different bands to entertain the customers every night.