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Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Mayor bares new aid package for Muslims
By Antonio M. Ajero
DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte during a dialogue with Islam believers at the multi-purpose gym of Barangay Bankerohan Monday afternoon revealed the new package of assistance for all Muslim tribes in the city.
A new deputy mayor for special concerns with broad powers, a recreation center for the youth, a madrasah for pre-schoolers, and a relocation site comprised the new aid package.
The dialogue was primarily designed to tackle growing involvement of idle Muslim youths in teenage hooliganism, gang wars, drug trafficking, and petty crimes that has alarmed both parents and city authorities.
The mayor appealed to Muslim adults and parents to rally behind the program of the City Government that aimed at providing the right atmosphere in which Muslim youth could grow to be wholesome, law-abiding, and useful citizens instead of turning out to be police characters and liabilities of society.
Along this line, Duterte said, he would soon appoint a qualified and respected Muslim leader as deputy mayor for special concerns, saying "concerns" was euphemism for "problems."
The mayor explained that the new deputy mayor is in addition to the five incumbent Muslim deputy mayors (for Kalagans, Maranaws, Maguindanaos, Tausogs and Samals).
This deputy mayor who would report directly to the mayor would see to it that the parents, according to the will of Allah, nurtures Muslim youths.
This could be done by providing Muslim youths, especially those out of school, with recreational and sports facilities, which would help mold their characters. And also take Muslim youths away from the streets and give them proper education through madrasah and regular schooling.
The new deputy mayor for special concerns, whose name would be announced middle of this month, would act as a sort of "religious police or enforcer," seeing to it that parents are properly supervising their growing children.
Couples, who could not render parenting properly because of being sick or if both are working, are free to seek the City Government's assistance through the deputy mayor so that proper intervention could be extended to them.
"A Muslim youth who does not grow up according to the wishes of Allah is a failure of both his parents and government, as well as society in general," Duterte said.
A very significant project included in the new package of assistance to poor Muslims is the acquisition by the City Government of a relocation site, bared Duterte.
The City Government bought some 10 hectares in the Third District, part of which is intended for distribution to the "poorest of the poor" Muslim families who do not have home lots yet.
The mayor disapproved of the initial plan, which lumps together Muslim and Christian beneficiaries, in one relocation area.
While it is ideal for Filipinos of all creeds to mix in one community, he said, it is better that, their differences in religious beliefs and cultural traditions are respected to avoid complications.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (December 7, 2005 issue)
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