DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The San Pedro square is now declared as a Maximum Security Zone after the 19th City Council passed a resolution filed by Councilor Mabel Sunga-Acosta.
In a resolution filed by Councilor Acosta, Chair of the Committee of Peace and Public Safety, the San Pedro Square has been identified as the venue of various big events and covers the vital city offices such as the City Hall, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the Davao City Police Office, and the San Pedro Cathedral.
The San Pedro Square has been the venue where “the big population would usually converge”.
Maximum Security Zone is an area to which access is controlled through an entry point and limited to authorized, appropriately screened personnel, and authorized and properly escorted visitors, and monitored 24 hours a day and 7 days a week by peace-keeping forces.
“Whereas, the maximum-security zone is where the seven areas of vulnerability are effectively addressed such as the no backpack policy, no jacket policy, no non-transparent water containers policy, no non-transparent garbage bins/garbage bin protective walls, policy on see-through plants/shrubs or trimming of shrubs, policy on inspection of vendors’ stalls and boxes, and policy on 50 meters buffer zone or protective wall and no parking in crowded areas,” the resolution states.
In an interview with the media on Tuesday, Acosta said the declaration of San Pedro Square as a maximum security zone will promote the “Culture of Security” to the public even with the absence of law enforcers or the implementation of Martial Law.
“The culture of security will capitalize the resiliency and ability of Dabawenyos to collectively work in addressing the threats to the community,” she added.
Maximum Security Zone covers Jaltan-Pichon Street also known as Magallanes Street going to Bonifacio Monument Rotonda, C.M. Recto to corner Rizal Extension, Rizal Extension to corner C. Bangoy, C. Bangoy to corner San Pedro Street, San Pedro Street to corner City Hall Drive, City Hall Drive to corner Pichon Street.
It was earlier tackled in a regular meeting with the City Peace and Order Council last May 6, 2019, where the council passed the resolution for the declaration. Col. Consolito Yecla, Commander of Task Force Davao said the application of the policy under the Maximum Security Zone will only be done during big events and will be implemented according to the individual policies.
“For example, we are implementing the No Bag Pack policies in churches but only if there are mass or big events in church,” said Col. Yecla, adding that the terms and policies that will be implemented will also be according to the will of the organizers. (davaotoday.com)
