It was a valedictory State of the City Address (SOCA) that reminded us of something six years ago.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Thursday officially bid goodbye to Davao City as its chief executive. She will try to become the country’s second person in power in the coming May elections.
The emotional address reminded us of her father President Rodrigo Duterte’s farewell speech in 2016.
Destiny has put the father and daughter in this situation. A dream scenario for aspiring politicians and a challenge on the part of the lady mayor.
First, there will be comparisons to her father—a factor that’s going to play a critical role in the elections. Second, there will be expectations from those who will throw their support on her. Third, there will be harsher critics.
It’s a given. Mayor Inday knows that even before she plunged into the quagmire of national politics.
The new journey for the presidential daughter is a challenge that gives her the opportunity, as she would put it, “to spread my wings wider, to soar higher, and reach new heights —with the support of our fellow Filipinos — for our beloved country.”
Mayor Inday outlined the highs and lows of her tenure at the City Hall. She admitted the city experienced highs and lows as any local government would.
Some of the high points — from 2016 to 2021, the city government of Davao spent a total of P8.2 Billion sourced from the Annual Development Fund for both infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects. From this amount, the city has completed over 3,000 infrastructure projects, including 1,424 roads, 51 bridges, 180 school buildings, 63 office buildings, 44 barangay halls, 84 health centers, nine police stations, 748 irrigation and canal projects, 172 water systems, 11 electrification projects, and 669 other structures.
The greatest legacy perhaps would be how she steered the city through the pandemic. That is why we are out of the tough times.
For everything that you have done, Thank you Mayor Inday.
