OPEN ROADS. Davao City's roads will remain open for this year's Holy Week observance. A local traffic official, however, is advising participants to be mindful on the road to ensure peaceful conduct of activities. (Photo courtesy of City Government of Davao)
DAVAO CITY – The Davao City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) said roads will remain open, except two roads on Palm Sunday, as one-way lanes will be implemented near churches during the observance of the Holy Week here.
"The office has laid out a deployment plan. We identified the routes of 16 churches that will organize activities during the five-day observance of Holy Week in the city," CTTMO chief Dionisio Abude said in an interview Friday.
Abude said aside from Palm Sunday, the CTTMO will also man other activities on Maundy Thursday, April 14; stations of the cross on Good Friday, April 15; Black Saturday on April 16; and Easter Sunday on April 17.
A Palm Sunday procession will kick off from the Rizal Park to Bolton and back to the San Pedro Cathedral.
"There will be no road closure except for San Pedro Cathedral's vicinity on April 17, Easter Sunday. Only C.M. Recto and Bolton Streets will be closed so we can still manage the traffic on that day," Abude said.
To maintain order, the CTTMO will deploy some 925 personnel in 16 city churches.
Abude underscored the importance of preparing a traffic plan to ensure the roads are safe for both participants and motorists.
"There are instances that some participants cross the other lanes intended for motorists. That's why we are deploying men to make sure that the conduct of activities will be peaceful," the traffic official said.
He urged motorists to be cautious of the Stations of the Cross participants who cross their lane and at the same time reminded the participants to still wear face masks and keep a social distance. (PNA)
