DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/10 January) — The city government has ordered the suspension of face-to-face classes and the implementation of a skeleton workforce in government offices on Monday, January 13, in anticipation of traffic congestion during the “National Rally for Peace” organized by the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC).
Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte issued Proclamation Order No. 1 at 2:40 p.m. on Thursday to “help ease traffic congestion, reduce the strain on public transport, and encourage wider community participation” during the event.
Under suspended rules, 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 group’s 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.
“Considering the declared number of participants of the rally, it is imperative to take proactive measures to ensure the welfare and safety of both the residents of Davao City and the visitors,” the proclamation read.
The proclamation adopted city councilor Al Ryan Alejandre’s corollary resolution, encouraging the private sector to adopt remote work or reduced workforce arrangements.
It also ordered the suspension in-person classes in all public and private schools, urging them to shift to online or asynchronous learning.
Government offices will operate on a skeleton workforce, except agencies providing essential services such as healthcare, security, and disaster response.
Private offices were given the option to either suspend operations or implement flexible work arrangements, “but are encouraged to do so for the welfare and convenience of their employees.”
Bong Estudillo, INC regional legal officer, said during the city council session that they expect around 500,000 members from their 12 districts in Regions 11 (Davao) and 12 (Soccsksargen) to participate in the rally, including some from Bukidnon province. About 10,000 vehicles, mostly buses, will also arrive in the city.
Estudillo 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.”
Davao City Police Office spokesperson Captain Hazel Caballero-Tuazon on Wednesday said that they will deploy 2,451 personnel from, which is pending confirmation after a meeting on January 10.
Additional manpower has been requested from the Police Regional Office XI, and they will deploy personnel along closed roads, she said. (Ian Carl Espinosa/MindaNews)
