THE 20th City Council has approved the temporary closure of some roads on Central Park Avenue, Davao City, for the annual Pahalipay sa Taal event.
Proposed by City Councilor Conrado C. Baluran, chair of the Committee on Transportation and Communications, the closure will affect the two rightmost lanes of Central Park Avenue. If coming from McArthur Highway, Ulas side, it will be the two lanes nearest to Merco, as well as the two lanes of Cordillera Road from the corner of Central Park Avenue to the corner of Arayat Road. The closure will be in effect from 7 a.m. on December 23, 2024, until December 24, 2024.
“In connection with their upcoming Pahalipay sa Taal, Mr. Vince Jul O. Malica, chief of staff, office of the city mayor requested for a temporary road closure along the specified street and dates specified,” he said on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
In a letter sent to the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO), the office stated that an emergency lane should be provided for emergency purposes. Traffic cones and other signage will be installed, CTTMO personnel will be present, and, if necessary, barangay auxiliary units will be deployed. After the event, the materials will be restored.
To recall, around 40,000 individuals gathered for the annual “Pahalipay sa Taal” on December 25, 2023. Of this number, approximately 20,000 received food packs. But there were no reported incidents during the distribution. Last year’s edition of Pahalipay sa Taal was attended by Vice President Sara Duterte, who interacted with Dabawenyos lining up to receive their food packs, gift checks, cash, and lunch packs.
The “Pahalipay sa Taal” is a yearly tradition hosted by the Duterte family at the ancestral house of Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, located on Taal Road, Central Park Subdivision, Bangkal, Davao City. The annual event was suspended for about two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. RGP
