Monday, July 02, 2007 Oledan: Zeal By Radzini Oledan Slice of life
"WE EXPLORED the options available to us, never hesitated to exercise our prerogatives, asserted our rights, and pursued what we believed was good for us.
We did not just take the path less traveled. When the situation demanded it, we created our own." - Mayor Rodrgo R. Duterte, 2007 Inaugural Address.
This year, Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte marked almost two decades of strong political leadership in Davao City.
It was by no means easy.
The mantle of leadership was given to him with the full trust of Dabawenyos who, in 1988, were still reeling from an unstable peace and order situation.
Davao was then known as the killing fields of the south, marked by chaos and disorder.
"It was nineteen years ago, in 1988, when I first took my oath as mayor of our city. Those were turbulent and uncertain times. Our people were divided and grappling with the democratic space that was suddenly there for everyone to enjoy or abuse."
Last Saturday's inaugural speech of the mayor for his second third term (his first third term was in 1998) may be considered as a memoir for Dabawenyos who have stubbornly faced the challenge. Head on.
"The challenges then were to restore law and order, promote peace, clean up the garbage, restore the faith of our fellow Dabawenyos in our city, bring in the investors, create jobs and livelihood to benefit the people, improve the social and physical infrastructure, provide the basic facilities and amenities and to make sure that the local government as an institution will be capable of responding to the needs of the people."
If there was anything that could be said of the leadership of the mayor, it is his ability to unify the various segments of the public, with all of the colors and affiliations.
The man simply struck the hearts and minds of the masses.
He continues to be remembered as somebody who is willing to go down to the ordinary people. Be within their reach, a father who would listen and a ruler who is tough against those who violate human rights, most especially of women and children.
It was President Ramon Magsaysay who said he who has less in life should have more in law. Probably, it was only Mayor Duterte who was able to operationalize it in the way he has governed the city.
His leadership is of no flaws. His unconventional style may have earned the ire of some groups.
Still, he continued to defy and redirect tradition--for the public's interest.
Today, Davao City remains to be the trailblazer in socio-economic reform, ecological rights and inclusive governance.
The mayor is not one who would brag and rightly so, for it was the confidence of the people on themselves which made all of the efforts possible and sustainable.
Simply put, there was substance and programs are almost always relevant to the lives of the people.
A generation later, Vice Mayor Sarah Zimmerman Duterte takes the reign of leadership in the legislative arena.
She is expected to continue the zeal of Duterte's leadership. Yet, she is a woman of substance in her own.
With the same confidence given to his father, Inday Sara will continue the brand of leadership of her father.
