ILOILO CITY — Officials here have asserted that a duathlon race embroiled in a controversy is not a part of the 2023 Dinagyang Festival.

Mayor Jerry Trenas warned events organizers from using the Dinagyang Festival for their benefit.
“All sports activities using the name of the city government and Dinagyang will be investigated for wrongdoings since we will not allow any issues to mar our celebrations! I will never allow any wrongdoings,” said Mayor Jerry Treñas in a Facebook post.
Treñas was one of the officials who issued statements after participants of the 1st Iloilo City of Love Dinagyang Duathlon event last Saturday, Jan. 7, complained that the cash prize for the winners were slashed.
The champion in each category was supposed to receive P8,000 but was only given P1,000.
The duathlon race organized by the Iloilo Active Sports was publicly criticized when it charged participants P1,500 as registration fee but did not award the full cash prize stipulated in the event posters or announcements.
The Iloilo City Sports Development Division denied that it is part of the event.
“We would like to clarify that the Iloilo City Sports Development Division is not a partner nor is involved in the said duathlon event. The event is not listed in the office’s official list of events,” said Rudiver Jungco Sr., an executive assistant for Youth and Sports Development.
Iloilo City Councilor Johnny Young, a sports enthusiast, also denied that his office was a part and he was only a participant in the duathlon race.