Like a father who is happy with his disciplined children, Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte lauded Dabawenyos for being disciplined by following the policies implemented in Davao City.
Speaking before the awardees of the Pasidungog: Garbo sa Dabaw 2024 on Friday at SM Lanang Premier’s SMX Convention Center, the mayor said this is where this year’s theme of the 87th Araw ng Dabaw theme “Dabawenyo D.C-plinado” is anchored.
He cited the ordinances such as liquor ban, firecracker ban, speed limit, and no smoking that are religiously followed by Dabawenyos.
“Kay pag ang usa ka syudad naga dako siya there is economic growth to a lot of people who will come in. Ang population nagadako pud. Ang tendency pag magkadaghan ang mag tao sa isa ka lugar, mag-ilog gyud na siya. You can observe this sa dalan pa lang daan. Sauna wala man kaayo sakyanan sa atong dalan, wala kaayo mga motor, mga sakyanan, mga trucks on the road. But now our roads are not enough para sa volume sa mga sakyanan so the tendency these people mag sige ug ilog because tanan man ta gadali. Pero what’s amusing sa tanan na akong makita tanan Dabawenyos mu-follow sa speed limit and that only means nga kitang mga taga Davao really care sa atong lugar, dili ta manigarailyo ug dili ta nagapabuto. Ug kanunay nato nang ginapraktis kaniadto pa kay nagatuo ta nga if we do our role and collectively we do it maabot ta sa atong gusto maabtan ug kung asa ta padulong,” Duterte said.
He said it cannot be avoided that each Dabawenyo has differences.
“Mao nang ever since lahi gyud ta. Kay pag-abot nimo diri sa Davao this is one of the few places in the Philippines nga bawal manigarilyo, one of the few places and the only one in the Philippines nga bawal ang pabuto. Nobody is saying its an easy task naa man gyud birthing pains dili man na pirminte na sayon. For the smokers naglisod man gyud ang tanan ug undang ug muadto sa smoking area para didto manigarilyo. Kaning kusog magpadagan, madakpan kay wala maanad,” Duterte said.
He said that sometimes there is resistance, especially from the new generations.
“Pero naa lang na diha nga balaod its because para walay maligsan, walay lung cancer sa second hand smoker, walay maputol na mga kamot, walay hubog sa dalan unya mag-away ug magpinatyanay,” he said.
The mayor also said that Dabawenyos is very competitive and loves to express their opinions.
“What I observed ang mga taga Davao is very competitive. Suma gani kita diri very critical ug naa gyud democracy ang Davao City. That is how my perception on the people of Davao City kahibaw gyud sila maghunahuna sa ilang ipang ingon ug sa ilang gusto,” Duterte said.
Duterte said in terms of behavior, Dabawenyos are better than those in the developing countries and what is lacking in the city now is infrastructures.
“Kung ako patan-awon ninyo kuyaw gyud ang Davao City pag-abot sa pagdisiplina sa inyong kaugalingon. if you will accept my opinion ang kuwang na lang nato is infrastructure ug ang problema dinha because of our system of government, which is centralized kaayo, mao na dili kaayo ta maka buot sa atong kaugalingon kay kung naa ta’y kinahanglan nga bayaran o paliton dili nako makuha because we need funding from the national government,” he said.
He said in his observation since he became mayor, Mindanao is often neglected historically, when it comes to budget.
He said it is only the Dabawenyos that can improve and develop and bring clarity to the city.
