DAVAO CITY — Local government units across Mindanao have suspended classes and work on Monday in preparation for the national peace rally organized by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC).
Through Proclamation No. 1 Series of 2025, the city government of Davao declared the suspension of face-to-face classes at all levels of public and private schools
. A skeleton workforce arrangement has been mandated for all national and local government offices, including government-owned and controlled corporations, to mitigate any potential disruptions due to the influx of participants for INC’s “National Rally for Peace.”
The Davao Peace Rally is expected to gather 300,000 people.
In Cagayan de Oro City, Mayor Rolando Uy also suspended classes and government office operations “to maintain peace and order and preserve the comfort and convenience of students, parents, and residents” as the city braces for the daylong disruptions.
Traffic will be rerouted as part of the preparations, and six major roads in the central business district will be closed. Additionally, telecom signals will be jammed around Plaza Divisoria, where the rally will occur, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The rally has attracted large crowds across the region, with Davao City Police Director Colonel Hansel Marantan estimating the number of attendees to be 175,000 by 10:00 a.m. “But many are still coming,” he added. The city has deployed sufficient security forces to ensure the safety and order of the event.
In other parts of Mindanao, local authorities have similarly made adjustments. In General Santos City, classes were suspended, and government offices operated with a reduced workforce. At the same time, traffic management plans were implemented in Iligan City to accommodate the influx of vehicles and participants heading to rally sites.
An Iglesia ni Cristo member shared with Newsline, “We have controlled our borders to ensure that only our members are joining the crowd.”
As the rally grows, local officials emphasize the need for residents’ cooperation to ensure the peace rally’s smooth conduct while maintaining public safety.-Paul T. Palacio and Shiny Deborah Bullecer
