The 18th Davao City council is looking to pass an ordinance prohibiting individual or group activities from blocking roads and highways that cause obstruction or delay of services detrimental to public welfare and security.
Davao City vice Mayor Bernard Al-ag said on Tuesday that the proposed ordinance aims to preserve peace and order and public welfare to improve and decongest the traffic within Davao City.
During the Pulong-pulong ni Pulong media forum yesterday at the City Councilor Lounge, Al-ag underscored that the ordinance will prevent the public inconvenience and minimizing serious or undue interface with free flow of commerce and trade.
“Last month the militant Kilusang Mayong Uno (KMU) blocked the highway in Barangay Lasang and tied up vehicular traffic flow for more than two hours and this not the first time it happened in the city because in 2016 they also did the similar incident in Barangay Panacan, he said.
Al-ag said that any individual or group activities intends to block the roads and highways for protest actions and other activities will be penalized of up to one year imprisonment and a fine of P5,000.
“The city is not prohibiting any assembly or rally, protesters are allowed to hold rallies in parks but not on city streets and highways,” he said.
The vice mayor wants to give the policemen’s more powers to prevent road blockades and make it a priority legislation so that there will be no individuals or groups will protest in the streets or roads.
