DAVAO City Administrator lawyer Zuleika Lopez said the guidelines approved by the Davao City Parks Board that were posted at Rizal Park and Magsaysay Park are for the general welfare of the public.
“It is because of the public safety, public welfare and order,” she said.
Lopez added that Davao City Parks Board made a thorough research before it was released.
“Ni-research siya, on how the other parks are coming up with signages, sinama-sama ang lahat ng guidelines because we try to maintain our parks. We will keep it clean and green, so we ask also the public to help us because the City Government cannot do it by itself,” she said.
Lopez said the guidelines do not have any penalty equivalent and that it comes in a form of gentle reminder to the public.
“The guidelines remain the same; bawal ang smoking, bawal vending, bawal ang loitering, sleeping in the park,” she said.
She added that feeding of animals especially at Rizal Park was also prohibited with basis from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) advisory on feeding birds.
“The feeding of animals, we are advised by the DENR, kasi especially during the height of the avian flu that we prohibit the feeding of animals. We have parks manager to tell people not to feed. It is not encouraged actually,” she said.
She added that no skating and bicycling was also advised by the parks board.
Lopez said that Davao City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) is the lead agency to monitor that these prohibitions are observed.
A poster in Magsaysay Park and Rizal Park by the City Government of Davao and Cenro read that littering, smoking, illegal drugs are prohibited in the park.
Discharging of fireams, bringing in deadly weapons, vandalism, gambling, and bringing in alcoholic beverages inside the park are also prohibited.
Bringing in pets, playing loud music, selling, vending, or peddling of any sort are also not allowed.
Any form of indecent acts, spitting, picking flowers, climbing of trees, and sculptures are not allowed in the new guidelines.
Destruction of public property; bringing in of breakable items; and charging of electronic gadgets and devices are also prohibited.
Feeding of animals; posting of bills and any sort of advertisement; motorcycling, bicycling, and skating; playing ball games; and any remote controlled toys and devices are also not allowed.
Sleeping or lying down anywhere within the premises; unauthorized events, demonstrations, rallies and other unauthorized gathering are also prohibited.