DAVAO City is known for countless landmark ordinances.
Some of these are distinct here. The laws seek to discipline Dabawenyos as well as to ensure the peace and order in the city. While we are already familiar with the city's No Smoking Ordinance and Firecracker ban, here are the ordinances that you may not be familar of:
1. Anti-Nuisance Ordinance
This ordinance regulates the use of videoke machines and other sound-producing devices. It was crafted after receiving complaints generated by videoke. Thus, making loud and unnecessary, or annoying and irritating noises produced by megaphones, amplifiers, DVD players, stereos, loud speakers, radio and/or any sound system is not allowed.
2. Sobriety Ordinance
If you are planning to drink beer until morning, you might think twice since drinking in public places beyond 1 a.m. is prohibited here in Davao City. As an amendment to the original liquor ban (Ordinance No. 1627) in 1994, the city government issued a new ordinance in 2013 (Ordinance No. 004-13) entitled “An ordinance regulating the operation of business establishments selling liquors, coconut wine, and other nature wine and other alcoholic beverages in the city of Davao”.
3. Anti-Unattended Bag Ordinance
When going to the city, one must be mindful of their baggage because this ordinance penalizes people who carries and lays down an unattended bag in a public place and walks away with or without causing alarm or panic.
4. Anti-Jaywalking Ordinance
This has been around for quite some time but it was only in September 2017 when the Davao City Traffic and Transport Management Office (CTTMO) started their apprehension against erring pedestrians who cross the street not in designated pedestrian lanes. Since then, Dabawenyos has become discipline in adhering to traffic rules for fear of being fined.
Last October 2018, CTTMO collected a total of P35 million from 20,740 jaywalkers and other traffic violators apprehended for the months of September 2017 to June 2018. Under the City Traffic Citation Ticket (CTCT), jaywalkers are fined P100 or undergo a compulsory four-hour community service.
5. Anti-Spitting Ordinance
It is unknown to many that spitting in public places is strictly prohibited in Davao City because of this ordinance which was enacted in 2009.
The law aims to promote cleanliness and decrease the rate of Tuberculosis cases in Davao. This ordinance forbids spitting of saliva, mucus and phlegm to any public places like sidewalks, parks, malls, markets, streets, alleys, buildings, banks, schools, hospitals, churches and the like within the vicinity of Davao City.
6. Speed Limit Ordinance
Under executive order (EO) 39, also known as the Davao Speed Limit Ordinance, which was implemented starting October 29, 2013 by then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte aims to mitigate traffic incidents.
Under the ordinance, the speed limit sets a 30-kilometer per hour (kph) speed limit within the downtown area and 40 kph from Panacan Crossing to JP Laurel Avenue, from Ulas to Bolton Bridge, and from Ma-a Road to McArthur Highway. A 60 kph maximum speed is set from Calinan to Ulas Crossing, from Lasang to Panacan, from Sirawan to Ulas Crossing, and from CP Garcia Highway-McArthur Highway to Panacan.