Vice President Jejomar C. Binay commended Tagum City’s transformation since its creation as a city 14 years ago during a five-hour visit to the city, in time for its 14th Araw ng Tagum celebration last Wednesday.
“Tunay ngang napakarami na ng inyong nakamit bilang isang lokal na pamahalaan sa loob lamang ng 14 taong pagkalungsod. Kaya para sa akin, pinatitibay lamang nito ang matagal ko nang paniniwala na ang pagkamit ng kaunlaran ng isang lokalidad ay nakasalalay sa mga taong nakatira rito, at sa kung paano nila harapin ang kombinasyon ng hamon, balakid, at oportunidad na ibinabato sa kanila ng tadhana at kasaysayan,” Binay said in his speech at the Rotary Gym at the culmination of the civic parade.
Mayor Rey T. Uy joined the visiting vice president and Congresswoman Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay in this mammoth civic parade, which passed through the city’s major thoroughfares. Throughout the 45-minute parade, these leaders gamely walked along the city’s streets and mingled with the people along the streets and obliged to requests of photo-ops.
“Ang tagumpay na tinatamo ng Tagum ngayon ay bunga ng masidhing paghangad sa kadakilaan at pagbabago na sa tingin ko’y nananalaytay sa bawat tao sa simula pa. Mahusay namang nagamit ng inyong mga pinuno, sa pangunguna ni Mayor Rey Uy, ang likas na kagalingan at paghangad na ito ng mga mamamayan ng Tagum. Pinag-isa niya ang mga kagalingang ito upang maging lakas para sa kapakanan ng buong Tagum,” Binay said.
In his speech, Mayor Uy thanked the country’s second official for it is the first time in his term that the city was visited by a sitting vice president.
But it can be recalled that Binay already visited the city in the past, most notable of which was when he personally went here to sign the sisterhood ties between Tagum and Makati, the city where he served as mayor before elected as the country’s vice president.
“Sa inyong kasaysayan at kasalukuyan, hindi ko mapigilan ang aking sariling magbalik tanaw sa tila kakambal na tadhana ng lungsod ng Makati na matagal ko ring pinamunuan. Hindi ako mangingiming mang-hinuha na hindi malayong makamit ng lungsod ng Tagum ang nakamit ng Makati,” Binay said.
MASS INTERACTIONS
City officials also treated the visiting officials to a boodle fight at Tagum City’s Public Market, to the amusement of market folks. The vice president also formally turned-over two sets of wheel chairs to disabled persons of the city, as recommended by the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
The Vice President also took a glimpse of the Mayor Uy’s “Care for School Chairs” Program at the Fabrication Section of the city’s motorpool where he said he was impressed by how the Local Government Unit of Tagum fabricated school chairs from confiscated logs.
Cong. Magsaysay stressed she was “surprised” since she thought these are sold to schools upon his arrival at the Fabrication Section, only to found out later from Mayor Uy that these are given for free.
The team also visited the RTU-Suaybaguio Relocation in Barangay Apokon where the two leaders met with families who were relocated by the city government.
Tagum’s local chief executive raised the city’s social responsibility a notch higher during that day by distributing school chairs in Panabo National High School, Davao del Norte.
PEOPLE’S DAY
Wednesday’s event was also considered as “People’s Day” as the celebration also focused on the Tagumeños. The spotlight was focused not on politicians’ speeches but on ordinary people who witnessed the transformation of the city and how it helped in changing the lives of their respective families.
Dr. Glenn A. Pono, a medical practitioner, Miss Lucky Valera representing the youth sector and Mr. Roel Baclayon, a night market vendor spoke about their experiences that magnified stories that are interwoven into the lives of the Tagumeños.
Thousands of Tagumeños trooped to Tagum City Pavilion inside the city’s trade and cultural center to avail of the Free Social Services provided by the local government. These services include dental, blood pressure monitoring, minor surgery, bloodletting, NSO processing and authentication, therapeutic massage, manicure, pedicure, haircut and Libreng Tawag courtesy of Globe Telecom.
