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Authored by Court. LORENA NATIVIDAD-BORJA, Coun. ANTONIO R. ESPIRITU, Court. ROVIN ANDREW M. FELICIANO, Coun. CORAZON A. CORTEZ, Coun. MARLON PAULO C. ALEJANDRINO, Coun. JENNIFER PINGREE-ESPLANA, Coun. LAILANIE P. NOLASCO, Coun. KIMBERLY ANN D.V. GALANG, Coun. CRISSHA M. PINEDA, Coun. KRISTIAN ROME T. SY and Coun. RAMON L. ENCARNACION.

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WHEREAS, Batas Pambansa Blg. 880 mandates the local government unit to designate Freedom Parks that shall be the venue of mass action protest in the locality;

WHEREAS, Section 15 of the said Batas Pambansa directs all cities and municipalities nationwide to designate their respective freedom parks;

WHEREAS, the designation of a Freedom Park shall guarantee protection to the basic constitutional right of the people to free expression and peaceful assembly in seeking redress and airing grievances against the government;

WHEREAS, Polo Park in Barangay Poblacion is the most suitable site for such purpose considering its central location where demonstrations and meetings may be held any time;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it ORDAINED as it is hereby ORDAINED by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Valenzuela, in session duly assembled, after due discussions and deliberations, as follows:

SECTION 1. TITLE - This Ordinance shall be known and referred to as "An Ordinance Designating Polo Park in Barangay Poblacion as the Freedom Park in the City Government of Valenzuela".

SECTION 2. DEFINITION OF TERMS - When used herein, the term

	a)	Freedom Park shall refer to Polo Park in Barangay Poblacion where demonstrations, public assemblies and meetings may be held anytime.
	b)	Public Assembly shall mean any rally, demonstration, march, parade, procession or any other form of mass or concerted action held in a public place for the purpose of presenting a lawful cause or expressing an opinion to the general public on any particular issue or protesting or influencing any state of affairs whether political, economic or social, or petitioning the government for redress of grievances. Public Place shall include any highway, boulevard, avenue, road, street, bridge or other thoroughfare, park, plaza, square and/or any open space of public ownership where the people are allowed access.

SECTION 3. WHEN PERMIT IS REQUIRED. A written permit from the Office of the City Mayor shall be required for any person or persons to organize and hold a public assembly in a public place.

SECTION 4. WHEN NO PERMIT IS REQUIRED. No permit shall be required if the public assembly shall be done in Polo Park in Barangay Poblacion , or in a private property, in which case only the consent of the owner or the one entitled to its legal possession is required.

SECTION 5. This act does not cover political meetings or rallies held during any election campaign period as provided for by law. Neither does it cover picketing and other concerted action in strike areas by workers and employees resulting from a labor dispute as defined by the Labor Code, its implementing rules and regulations and by Batas Pambansa 227.

SECTION 6. The demonstrations, public meetings, processions, rallies, parades and assemblages for religious purposes shall be governed by a separate ordinance.

SECTION 7. REPEALING CLAUSE. All Ordinances, Administrative Circulars and Executive Orders or part hereof, which are inconsistent or contrary to the provision of this Ordinance are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 8. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. If any part or provision of this Ordinance shall be declared null and void by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other portions thereof shall remain valid and in full force and effect.

SECTION 9. EFFECTIVITY. This Ordinance shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

ENACTED.
FEBRUARY 15, 2016.
VALENZUELA CITY, METROPOLITAN MANILA.

HON. ROSALIE ESTEBAN-CAYCO Councilor Minority Floor Leader
HON. MARCELINO G. MORELOS Councilor	(Sgd.) HON. ANTONIO R. ESPIRITU Councilor Asst. Majority Floor Leader
(Sgd.) HON. ROVIN ANDREW M. FELICIANO Councilor	(Sgd.) HON. LAILANIE P. NOLASCO Councilor
(Sgd.) HON. CORAZON A. CORTEZ Councilor	(Sgd.) HON. KIMBERLY ANN D.V. GALANG Councilor
(Sgd.) HON. MARLON PAULO C. ALEJANDRINO Councilor	(Sgd.) HON. CRISSHA M. PINEDA Councilor
(Sgd.) HON. JENNIFER PINGREE-ESPLANA Councilor	(Sgd.) HON. KRISTIAN ROME T. SY Councilor
(Sgd.) HON. RAMON L. ENCARNACION Councilor (President, League of Barangays)
	ATTESTED:
	(Sgd.) FLAVIO C. DIAZ Secretary
CERTIFIED CORRECT:
(Sgd.) HON. LORENA NATIVIDAD-BORJA Councilor Majority Floor Leader Temporary Presiding Officer
APPROVED:
(Sgd.) HON. REXLON T. GATCHALIAN City Mayor Date Signed: _______________________