DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 11 January) — A candidate for representative of the city’s first district questioned the city government’s decision to close main roads and suspend classes during the “National Rally for Peace” of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) on January 13.
Maria Victoria “Mags” Maglana said in a Facebook post Friday that the city government can easily balance their “political concerns” and the interests of the residents, workers, drivers, passengers and business people.
“It’s easy to say that private establishments are encouraged to suspend work or implement work-from-home arrangements, but what about those who really need to earn?” Maglana, a development worker, said in the vernacular.
She asked why the event could not be held at Crocodile Park, the same venue where supporters of former president and now mayoralty candidate Rodrigo Duterte held their thanksgiving rally in 2016.
She said the park is more convenient due to its large area that allows for the setting up of several equipment and deployment of security and other necessary support measures.
It’s also favorable for INC members coming from outside Davao since they can directly go there via Diversion Road, she added.
Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte issued Proclamation Order No. 1 at 2:40 p.m. on Thursday, suspending face-to-face classes in public and private schools and recommending skeleton workforce in government office to “help ease traffic congestion, reduce the strain on public transport, and encourage wider community participation” during the event.
The city council approved Tuesday City Ordinance No. 0735- 25, Series of 2025, providing for the partial closure of the following streets starting at 9 p.m. on January 11 in preparation for the INC rally: San Pedro, C.M. Recto (also known as Claveria), Pelayo (commonly known as Legazpi), A. Inigo (commonly known as Anda), C. Bangoy (commonly known as Magallanes), Rizal, Bonifacio, Palma Gil, Bolton, and City Hall Drive.
On January 13, these streets will be fully closed to traffic from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
In addition, the Davao City Coastal Road – from Tulip Drive to Bago Aplaya – will also be partially closed to traffic the whole day of January 13.
During the city council session Tuesday morning, INC regional legal officer Eranio “Bong” Estudillo said they had planned the rally as early as December 2024, and they expect to gather around 500,000 members from their 12 districts in Regions 11 (Davao) and 12 (Soccsksargen), including some from Bukidnon province.
An INC district comprises several local congregations or churches in a geographic area.
Estudillo said the rally will push through with or without a permit.
City Information Office in-charge Harvey Lanticse has yet to respond to MindaNews’ query whether or not INC has secured a permit for the rally.
As to why they will use roads instead of Crocodile Park, Estudillo said the park management was “mad” at them when they held a mission there in 2011, which gathered an estimated 2.5 million people, according to a Philippine Star report.
“For now, there are no other places that we can use,” Estudillo told the city council.
He asked for the road closure on January 11 and 12 so they can set up their equipment.
He said it is really their elders’ and leaders’ prerogative to organize events like a rally, and they are keen on pushing it as they “want peace for the country.”
He said the rally is their response to the call of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. not to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, as the country has “many pressing problems waiting to be prioritized.”
Meanwhile, Dionisio Abude, City Transport and Traffic Management Office head, assured they had already identified alternative routes for motorists. (Ian Carl Espinosa/MindaNews)
