The simultaneous National Rally for Peace of Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) in Davao City is all set.
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.
At 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. of 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 Bago Aplaya entrance to Tulip Drive exit will be partially closed also on Monday, January 13 as 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. But the city government of Davao said the area can only accommodate 300,000 people and requested INC to reduce the number of their attendees.
“The purpose ng aming rally ay para sa kapayapaan at para aming maipahayag ang aming damdamin sa mga tao lalo na sa sambayanang Pilipino,” Estudillo said.
Estudillo added that the rally also aims to emphasize that there are other more pressing issues that the country is facing that the national government needs to address aside from the impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Estudillo said they have been preparing for the rally for almost one month.
“Naipaalam na namin sa lahat ng aming kapatid sa buong Pilipinas itong event na ito,” he said.
The stage at Rizal Park will be the main stage of the event.
City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) Head Dionisio Abude said CTTMO will start information drive and will be informing the establishments that will be affected by the road closures.
He also said that they will be distributing flyers concerning the rerouting plan to motorists, establishments, and the media.
“Information dissemination to every establishment so that their time can be adjusted and showing this rerouting plan that there are still areas that they can use going to their offices, the Magallanes Street, Roxas Avenue, Quirino Avenue as these areas will be regulated meaning puwede kang pumasok but you cannot cross,” Abude said.
Abude said CTTMO will be deploying enforcers on every corner and street to manage the traffic.
Meanwhile, Councilor Diosdado Angelo Reyes Mahipus Jr. passed a corollary resolution in support of the peace rally.
“This is a manifestation of support of the City of Davao for the efforts of INC in emphasizing peace in our country,” Mahipus said.
