Definition of Key Terms
- Freedom Park: Refers specifically to Polo Park as the venue for public assemblies.
- Public Assembly: Includes rallies, demonstrations, marches, parades, processions or other mass actions aimed at expressing opinions or seeking redress.
- Public Place: Encompasses highways, streets, parks, plazas, and other open spaces accessible to the public.
Permit Requirements for Public Assemblies
- A written permit from the Office of the City Mayor is mandatory for organizing assemblies in public places.
- The ordinance regulates assemblies to maintain order and ensure lawful conduct.
Exceptions to Permit Requirement
- No permit needed for assemblies held within the designated Freedom Park (Polo Park).
- Assemblies on private properties require only the consent of the property owner or lawful possessor.
Exclusions and Scope Limitations
- Does not apply to political meetings or rallies during election campaigns.
- Excludes picketing and concerted actions related to labor disputes as defined under the Labor Code and relevant laws.
- Religious assemblies are governed by separate regulations.
Legal and Administrative Provisions
- Repeals all inconsistent ordinances, administrative orders, or executive issuances.
- Contains a separability clause ensuring the validity of remaining provisions should any part be invalidated by the courts.
Effectivity
- The ordinance takes effect fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation.