Iloilo suspends classes ahead of peace rally

ILOILO CITY — The local government here ordered the suspension of face-to-face classes in all levels on Monday in anticipation of a large crowd joining the Iglesia ni Cristo’s (INC) National Rally for Peace at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand.

Mayor Jerry Treñas on Sunday instructed concerned offices to hold a coordination meeting with the organizers of the peace rally to “ensure a seamless operation.”

“Upon their recommendation, I am declaring the whole day suspension of face-to-face classes in all levels in Iloilo City tomorrow. Schools and universities are advised to shift to modular learning,” Treñas said.

Executive Order 005-A, amending EO 005, which earlier ordered the suspension of face-to-face classes in select schools, “strongly advised” heads of offices and operations of national government agencies and offices and private companies and offices to suspend their operations.

“In the interest of the exigency of service, respective heads of offices and heads of operations are highly encouraged to operate on a skeletal force,” the EO said.

More or less 30,000 members of the INC, with around 1,000 vehicles, are expected to converge in the city from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Estimated attendees include 4,000 each from Antique and Iloilo North, around 5,000 each from Aklan and Capiz, and 12,000 from Iloilo South.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council), during its regular session last 8 January, passed an ordinance for the temporary closure of Muelle Loney Street starting from M. Peralta Street, where the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand is, up to the corner of Muelle Loney-Zamora Street starting 2 a.m.

Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO-6) assured that assigned teams are sufficient to cover all areas needing deployment.

“Our personnel at the Iloilo City Police Office are sufficient to cover all areas needing deployment,” PRO-6 spokesperson Lt. Col. Arnel Solis said.

He added that so far, they have not monitored any other groups that may attempt to disrupt the event.

Solis also called on the public to be vigilant, observant, and report to authorities should there be concerns about security and safety.