Twenty intersections in the city will be closed starting 2 a.m. on Aug. 18 until 4 p.m. on Aug. 19 for the culminating events of the Kadayawan festival, the Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan and Pamulak parade.
Speaking in yesterday’s AFP-PNP press briefing held in Royal Mandaya hotel, Dionisio Abude, the chief of the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CCTMO), said they have already prepared for all Kadayawan indoor and outdoor activities.
“We have closures in Claro M. Recto (and) San Pedro because of the preparation for the materials for Pamulak and the San Pedro square where there will be concerts that will be conducted from 16 to 19,” Abude said.
“All the vehicles coming from Pichon and C.M. Recto and Quimpo Boulevard will be directed to Rizal Street and Bonifacio,” he added.
He said all the road closures have the imprimatur of the City Council.
For the Indak-indak and Palamulak parade, it will be just the same routes. From Roxas Avenue they will turn left to C.M. Recto, turn right to Bonifacio all the way to Pelayo, then from Pelayo, turn left to San Pedro Street up to Rizal Park.
During the Indak-indak there will be three showdown areas–in front of Marco Polo hotel, Bonifacio–Pelayo in Apo View hotel, and Rizal Park.
The road closures will start in Roxas Boulevard, the streets of Jacinto, Aurora, Jacinto Padre Paura, Pag-asa, Gomez, Zamora. Also, Mabini, Mabini- Aurora, Mabini-Pag-asa, Mabini-Padre Faura, and Padre Gomez will be closed.
“Why did we expand our closure? In order for vehicles not to be trapped, especially those who will be heading (supposedly) toward Roxas, when they enter Gomez they can no longer maneuver,” he said.
In the Quirino area, the Ilustre-Camus will be closed, along with General Luna, Pichon, Bolton, and Anda streets.
Also, vehicles won’t be allowed to pass the San Pedro-Boulevard and Palma Gil-Ponciano streets.
Vehicles coming from north or south can traverse the whole stretch of J.P. Laurel up to Quirino, going to MacArthur highway. They can also pass by R. Castillo, turn left to Leon Garcia then Boulevard, Quimpo, and MacArthur Highway.
As of Monday, the San Pedro Street has already been closed.
Meanwhile, at least 500 personnel of the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) and Traffic community Network (TrafCon) will also be deployed to man the traffic during the celebration.
On the other hand, Col. Randolf Cabangbang, the deputy commander of Task Force Davao said, that one company from 10th Infantry Division will augment the Task Force Davao to secure the city for the celebration.
“With the one company, we’ve been intensifying the checkpoint operations and random checkpoints and area security,” Cabangbang said.
He said personnel of Task Force Davao are deployed in all the activities of Kadayawan to support the security plan of the Davao City Police office (DCPO).
“We also urged the public to report to the authorities if they find any suspicious baggage unattended,” he added.
Sr. Insp. Ma. Theresita Gaspan, the spokesperson of Davao City Police Office (DCPO), said that the festivities have remained peaceful.
Just like the previous year, she said the bringing of bladed weapons, firearms (only authorized persons are allowed to carry like the members of the PNP and AFP), backpacks, canisters or tumblers (it should be transparent) is prohibited.
“No baggage area will be established for purposes to deposit those prohibited items since it is an additional workload for the PNP personnel,” Gaspan said.
“We urge the public to cooperate on the protocols that are being implemented for the good and safety of everyone,” she further said.
