Councilor Conrado C. Baluran, chairperson of the Committee on Transportation and Communications of the City Council, encouraged every Dabawenyo to join the “Dabawenyos are not for sale” mass launching and peace rally at San Pedro Square in Davao City on January 28, 2024.
A road closure will be implemented along San Pedro Street from corner Bolton to corner C.M Recto; San Pedro Street from corner Bolton extension to corner Magallanes and Bolton Street from corner Rizal to corner San Pedro Street starting 10 p.m. of January 26, 2024 to January 29, 2024.
On January 27, from 8 a.m. to Jan. 29, Anda Street from corner Magallanes Street to corner Rizal St. and Ponciano St. (Crooked road) from corner Rizal St. to corner San Pedro St.; San Pedro corner Anda to San Pedro corner Quirino and Legazpi St. from corner Rizal to corner Magallanes will be temporary closed.
While on Jan. 28, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., roads that will be temporary closed are C.M Recto corner Marco Polo to corner San Pedro St., the entire length of Roxas Boulevard (one lane -Aldevinco side), and San Pedro extension from corner Quezon Boulevard to corner C.M Recto.
“I am inviting everyone that on January 28, 9 a.m. at San Pedro Square, let us collectively unite our actions signifying our opposition by participating in the mass launching peace rally. That in unison, we shut out our battle cry that indeed, Dabawenyos are not for sale,” Baluran said in his privilege speech during the City Council’s regular session on Tuesday.
He mentioned that last week Dabawenyos’ peaceful life was stirred in a turmoil as group of individuals allegedly spearheaded by the leadership and some members of the House of Representatives initiated and orchestrated a signature campaign without fully explaining and understanding its content.
A signature campaign for the revision of the constitution through the People’s Initiative (PI) is ongoing nationwide.
Baluran expressed concerns in questioning the real intent of the said campaign because according to him, based on reports the people, especially those living in the far-flung barangays, are “manipulated and convinced to sign the petition under the pretense that in exchange, they will be receiving monetary consideration posing as “ayudas” which are part of the government social Assistance In Crisis Situation (AICS) program.”
“Indeed, such dirty tactics do not only tarnish and undermine the very essence of the democratic freedom but also cast doubt on the authenticity of all those people who cast their signature due to misleading feed-up information,” he said.
Baluran said the urgency to push for PI is not driven by the desire of the people but instead, it is the self-imposed deadline by those whose credibility had been fumbling already from the start since the goal of it has been fueled by selfish political motives and nothing more.
“And lastly, together with the calling for every Filipino people to participate in this greater cause for a nationwide campaign, Davao City will remain resilient and will not just stand aside as an observer but shall take part in continuously striving to unite for one nation, one strong opposition,” he said.
