DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 12 February)—The Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO) assures spectators, especially the members of the media, to have an amiable and good space to cover the Araw ng Dabaw activities.
Araw ng Dabaw celebration. MindaNews file photo
Davao City will celebrate its 87th charter day on March 16, but by virtue of Republic Act No. 11379, enacted in 2019, “Araw ng Dabaw” shall be on March 1. As of press time, the City Tourism Operations Office has yet to release the activities for this year’s celebration.
“Where spectators and media will be placed is already allocated, determined most probably by the [City Information Office] … What we do is to comply with plans,” PSSO head Angel Sumagaysay told MindaNews Monday morning.
But Sumagaysay also told the media to negotiate in case they would not be happy of their placement.
“If the media box would be too far during events, we are willing to adjust for the media to get nice angles,” he said.
This was raised after a newspaper reporter reportedly had an altercation with a PSSO personnel for not allowing the former to enter the media box, as he was going in and out during the Parada Dabawenyo last year.
The PSSO personnel attempted to collar the media practitioner for allegedly not complying with the rules set.
“Based on experience, our personnel would have quarrel with media who tend to go out to their designated media box. But we understand that because you want to get the best angle,” Sumagaysay said.
He urged spectators and the media to not interfere with the parade route so PSSO personnel won’t bother them.
Sumagaysay advised the media with vehicles to park in designated areas, and not near the crowd.
He said personnel to help secure the events will be “intensified,” especially during key events like the “Pasiugdang Pagsaulog” and “Parada Dabawenyo.” (Ian Carl Espinosa / MindaNews)
