The City government of Davao on Thursday issued Proclamation No. 01, Series of 2025 suspending face-to-face classes at all levels in both public and private schools and mandating a skeleton workforce in all national and local government offices in Davao City in time for the National Rally for Peace of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) to be held at Rizal Park on Monday.
The Proclamation, which also include Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), aims to ensure public order, safety, and the convenience of Dabawenyos as 10 major streets within the city’s business district will be temporarily closed during the conduct of the peace rally.
The Proclamation cites Section 16 of RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 granting the local government unit powers necessary to ensure and support the promotion of health and safety, maintenance of peace and order, and preservation of comfort and convenience of their inhabitants.
“Moreover, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Legal Opinion No. 2, series of 2015 states that LGUs can declare work and class suspension to ensure public order and convenience,” it said.
On Tuesday, the City Council of Davao passed Resolution No. 04022-25 requesting the mayor to issue a skeleton workforce arrangement for the city government employees on January 13 to help ease traffic congestion.
The City Council also passed on Tuesday an ordinance for partial road closure to vehicular traffic of San Pedro, C.M. Recto, C. Bangoy, Inigo, Pelayo, Bolton, and Rizal streets from 9 p.m. on Saturday, January 11 until 7:59 a.m. of Monday, January 13, 2025.
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 Estudillo said that around 300,000 members of the INC will join the event.
Estudillo also confirmed that the preparations for the nationwide peace rally have already been done and that this will push through on January 13 whether the permit will be granted or not.
The city government in a statement said that considering the declared number of participants of the rally, it is imperative to take proactive measures to ensure the welfare and safety of both residents and visitors.
“In addition, it is duty-bound to safeguard the public and undertake measures to avert any untoward incidents or disasters that may occur during the event,” it said.
Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO) head Angel Sumagaysay pointed out that the suspension of work and classes on January 13 will help manage traffic and ensure the convenience of Dabawenyos especially those working or studying within the event areas.
“INC said that the event will push through, rain or shine. We expect over 300,000 participants on Monday to come into the city and converge within the downtown area, which will result in traffic and congestion. While we have a full traffic and security plan in place, the suspension of work and classes will be helpful. We can avoid inconvenience among students and employees in the city. This will also allow us to focus on the security of the people directly participating in the rally,” Sumagaysay said
Meanwhile, the city government also encourages private offices and establishments in the areas affected by the peace rally to suspend work or adopt work-from-home arrangements for the convenience of their employees.
City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) Head Dionisio Abude earlier said for the establishments that will be affected by the road closure, it depends on the owners if they will opt to open and accept transactions on that day and advise the clients of the establishments to plan their visits to these establishments.
