City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) Head Dionisio Abude bared on Wednesday that more than 400 CTTMO traffic personnel will be deployed for the upcoming Nationwide Rally for Peace of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) in Davao City on Monday, January 13, 2025.
“Sa among preparations naay more than 400 personnel ug na ata’y force multipliers, specially the traffic community network (Trafcon) kay mao na atong usahay ginapa augment kung naa ta’y activity. Anyway na train pud namo ni sila unsaon pag manage ug pagdirect sa mga sakyanan,” Abude said during the Davao Peace and Security Press Corps media briefing at the Royal Mandaya Hotel.
The City Council of Davao on Tuesday passed an ordinance for the temporary road closure to vehicular traffic of San Pedro, C.M. Recto, C. Bangoy, Inigo, Pelayo, Bolton, and Rizal streets from 9 p.m. of Saturday, January 11 until 7:59 a.m. of Monday, January 13, 2025, for the rally’s preparations including the setting up of tents, 20 LED walls, and 40 portalets.
From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, January 13, the said roads will be totally closed from vehicular traffic for the event.
The stretch of the Davao Coastal Bypass Road from the Bago Aplaya entrance to the Tulip Drive exit will be partially closed also on Monday, January 13 as the portion of the four-lane road will be used for parking of at least 4,000 vehicles of the members of the congregation.
Minister Eraño “Bong” Estudillo, regional legal officer of INC, bared during Tuesday’s regular session at the City Council that 500,000 INC members from Regions 11, 12, and Bukidnon are expected to attend the said rally.
However, the city government of Davao said the area can only accommodate 300,000 people and requested INC to reduce the number of their attendees.
Abude explained that the 400 CTTMO traffic personnel will not only be deployed in the main venue at Rizal Park but also at the expansion areas including Maya Street and Tulip Drive to control and manage the gridlock.
“Naay expansion but ang concentration namo dinhi sa venue but ginatan-aw namo ang mag gridlock na portions sama didto sa Maya Street and Tulip Drive,” he said.
In anticipation that there will be heavy congestion because it is Monday, Abude advised the workers, particularly the government employees, to adjust their time and go to their offices early to avoid getting stuck in the traffic.
“Atong ginapahibalo ang tanan na adunay activity nga ingon ani kadako karong Lunes,” he said.
For the establishments that will be affected by the road closure, Abude said it depends on the owners if they will opt to open and accept transactions on that day and advised the clients of the establishments to plan their visits to these establishments.
“Depende na sa ilaha kung mag-open sila anang adlawa basta kabalo sila na dunay activity ug daghang no parking nga mga areas,” Abude said.
