The Davao City Council approved on Tuesday on the third and final reading an ordinance prescribing design standards for Davao City’s highways, roads, and streetscape.
Proposed by Councilor Edgar P. Ibuyan Jr, chair of the Committee on Public Works and Highways of the City Council, the ordinance titled “The Davao City Streetscape Ordinance” aims to establish comprehensive design standards for Davao City’s highways, roads, and streetscape, ensures safe, efficient, aesthetically pleasing and pedestrian-focused streets.
Ibuyan stated that it is also the goal of the ordinance to create a future-proof, multi-use road through the provision of standard underground spaces for power, water, and telecommunication lines, in addition to the usual drainage provisions and improve sidewalks and gutters along established thoroughfares supporting a wide range of pedestrian activities.
Ibuyan underscored that the proposed ordinance would address the recurring issue of frequent damage to streets and highways.
Ibuyan added that the ordinance provides for the allocation of designated spaces for the Davao City Water District (DCWD) pipelines, telecom wires, and the Davao Light and Power Company power lines to ensure compliance with the city’s underground cabling policy.
“This initiative outlines the lane configurations for various street types, such as the two-lane, four-lane, six-lane, and eight-lane roads,” he said.
Ibuyan stated that among the design guidelines are the features of the road: sidewalks must be at a minimum of 2100mm width on each side of the road; the bike lanes shall have a minimum width of 1,500mm on each side of the road; plant strips must be at a minimum width of 800mm on each side of the road, and curb gutters at 500mm wide on each side of the road.
The guidelines shall apply to all roads classified as major roads, minor roads, and roads within the arcaded zones.
Ibuyan cited Section 16 of the Republic Act No. 7160 of the Local Government Code of 1991 which states “Every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare.”
He emphasized that since the local government is the proponent of the ordinance, coordination with relevant offices will be essential for the implementation of the ordinance.
