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Thursday, May 20, 2004
City's drainage tops Duterte's priorities
IN HIS first TV appearance after the elections where he won by a landslide vote, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte bared that his priority is to improve the drainage system of the city on Tuesday night during his guest appearance at the program of evangelist Apollo C. Quiboloy of the Jesus The Name Above Every Name congregation.
"We saw the problems of the city and maybe we should start to borrow again but this time its for the drainage system of the city. It's overloaded and pass‚ actually and the sytem does not work anymore," Duterte said during the program, which was aired live in 58 cities nationwide and some countries abroad.
"Davao City is surrounded by habitation. I need to overwork the existing one. Maybe not doing away with the flooding but improve the drainage. If you noticed, Davao City has had lots of rains, almost everyday. We have not improved the drainage system. In terms of governance, somehow my fault since I have been Mayor for the last decade or so," he said.
Duterte said he intends to borrow money not only to improve drainage but also for acquisition of land for the urban poor.
"I must do something. I need authority of the City Council and the people of Davao City. Do some overtime," he said.
Duterte also intends to enhance the health assistance of the urban poor as it is among the problems of the city. He said as of the present, the administration has some P84 million projects for resettlement of the urban poor.
The interview with Pastor Quiboloy lasted more than two hours where later in the show some local journalists joined him for a panel discussion. Among the panelists were Sun.Star Davao publisher Antonio M. Ajero, columnists Gil Abarico and Roger Layson, who is also the assistant regional director of the Department of Tourism.
Duterte also laid down the policies which he has been implementing for the past years and reiterated his plans for the next three years. "It is a relief from the rigors of election campaign and I'm still resting, " Duterte admitted.
He said he will report to work "some time next week." The mayor admitted that he is still catching up on his sleep. AFD
(May 20, 2004 issue)
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