Proclamation No. 1, Series of 2025, was issued to ensure public order and safety as 10 roads in the city will be temporarily closed for the event. The Local Government Unit (LGU) has also urged private offices and establishments in affected areas to adopt work-from-home arrangements or suspend operations.
Jenielito “Dodong” Atillo, spokesperson for the Department of Education-Davao Region, confirmed that Davao City is the first area to suspend classes for the rally.
“Naghulat pa mi sa uban areas kung unsa ang ilang advise sa amo pero so far Davao pa lang ang nagpagawas og information (We are still waiting for advisories from other areas, but so far, Davao is the first to release information),” Atillo said in an interview with SunStar Davao.
Atillo clarified that only in-person classes are suspended, allowing schools to continue with online or modular learning.
Meanwhile, Dr. Christopher Pio O. Pulido, supervising education program specialist for the Commission on Higher Education-Davao Region (Ched-Davao), stated that higher education institutions (HEIs) have the discretion to cancel classes based on their assessment.
“Ang mag-assess gyud ana no og i-cancel ang klase really is ang management o ang administration ng higher education institution kay again dili tanan higher education institution dili sa Davao ang affected (Not all HEIs in Davao will be affected by the rally, so it’s up to their management to decide),” Pulido said in a phone interview with SunStar Davao on Thursday afternoon, January 9, 2025.
He urged HEI administrations and management to assess the situation early, especially if the event could make it difficult for students to attend onsite classes. Pulido said that HEIs already have the authority to suspend classes if justified.
Pulido noted that most HEIs in the city are in their enrollment period for January 2025, as the first semester ended in December 2024. Since many schools begin their semesters in August or September, the first semester typically concludes by December or early January.
He also reminded HEIs that Ched has established guidelines for class cancellations during disruptions such as flooding, earthquakes, or other natural disasters.
Pulido reassured that class disruptions are unlikely to affect the continuity of learning. Flexible learning options, implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic, remain in place, along with learning continuity plans to ensure students can continue their education despite interruptions.
The 20th City Council approved the temporary closure of several roads for the National Peace Rally, with over 300,000 INC members expected to attend.
Additionally, Resolution No. 04022-25 requested Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte to implement a skeleton workforce arrangement for city employees to alleviate traffic congestion. RGP
