OUTGOING Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio is set to serve a wider constituency as she will be the country’s next vice president. Here are some of the legacies that she would be most remembered for.
"One of the legacies of Mayor Sara is the Peace 911 and Child Abuse Hotline [Kean Gabriel]. These programs show that her heart is really to serve the people and make a safer place for the community. With Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio holding the second highest seat of power in the country, it sends a message to all that women can also lead and serve the Filipinos. We wish VP Sara a fruitful reign for the next six years."
Atty. Migs Nograles, PBA Partylist Representative-elected
"I will always be grateful for Mayor Sara's support for the amendment of the Bicycle Ordinance and the adoption of Bike Lanes in Davao City. Under her leadership, Davao City was able to establish bike lanes throughout our major roadways, a first for Mindanao and a welcome addition to our transport system. This legacy will continue as we build more bike lanes and provide more environmentally friendly, safe and accessible transportation. It shows her commitment not only to sustainable development in the city, but also to innovative ways to handle transportation issues during the pandemic, and the acknowledgment of the shared responsibility of road safety. Her driven and dynamic leadership as our City Mayor will benefit the entire Philippines as she continues her public service as our new Vice President."
Davao City First District Councilor Luna Acosta
"I have a long list of the invaluable achievements Mayor Inday Sara has made for Davao City. But I must say, the most notable moment of her service was during the darkest phase of the Covid pandemic, when she led Davao City to safety through her remarkable and efficient leadership. Her sterling performance as Mayor cannot be denied as the same is evidenced by the fact that Davao City is now recognized as an award winning city in many LGU categories. And as she embarks on a new political journey as Vice President of the Republic, she leaves a very robust, economically healthy and debt-free Davao City government by the end of her term as mayor."
Davao City Third District Representative Isidro Ungab
"The fact that she created the Covid-19 Task Force is a legacy in itself. When we do tackle a problem, outright masolusyonan dayon siya because the members of the Task Force are the department heads of all the offices of the LGU of Davao... She also created several executive orders that actually helped na ma-contain ang risk and transmission sa Covid-19 sa Davao City. [...] Kahit naga-surge ta diri, wala 'ta niabot sa point nga dili nato ma-contain ang atong surge. Paspas atong pag-contain, and we are able to give services for free. Even if mangutana sa ubang LGU, dili tanang LGU free ang RT-PCR test, quarantine, and isolation, and dili tanang LGU naga-provide og mga pagkaon during quarantine and isolation, even if dili ka direct close contact. I can spend a half day to tell you how great a leader Mayor Sara is."
Covid-19 Task Force Spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser (87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio interview)
"The [legacy of Mayor Sara is the] Culture of Security that is being propagated and advocated dito sa Davao City plus 'yung campaign natin na 'Kapag May Nakita, Dapat Magsalita.' In fact, we consider that as alive in Davao City because many are already reporting and the Dabawenyos are fully supportive and cooperative of that activity. Para sa ating safety and security iyon. We also have an integrated response on terrorism which became an executive order last year. Of course, na-enhanced din ang mga equipment ng Task Force Davao in anti-terrorism and counter terrorism, notwithstanding 'yung full support ni Mayor Sara sa men and women ng Task Force Davao has always nandiyan. Nagpapasalamat tayo sa outgoing City Mayor sa kanyang suporta, at ipagpapatuloy natin sa incoming [Mayor Sebastian Duterte] nang sa ganon ma-ensure natin an g safety and securiy ng Davao City."
Task Force Davao Commander Darren Comia
"Honestly, I have been together with Mayor Inday since then when I primarily worked in the CSWDO of Davao City. But just recently, in response to the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic specially here in Davao City or to the Davaoenos, I was personally assigned by VP Elect Mayor Inday to be the program manager of the following flagship programs she created. And these are Work for Davao, Eskwela Davao, the CHED and LGU Davao Tulong Dunong Program, Student’s Siblings Laptop and Tablet Sharing Program.
VP Elect Mayor Inday is very much involved in the projects right from the creation, up until their implementation stages. That’s how involved she is through the programs.
Bilang Mayor, boss, friend-VP Elect Mayor Inday is a strong and firm leader, if I may say. She is somehow the male version of her father President Rodrigo. A mother with compassion and empathy to her constituents. As a boss, she is someone whom you would fear in respect and adoration. I believe kung ano ang kanyang ipinapakita ngayon, it has been brought about by the good upbringing of President Rodrigo. She continued the legacy of good governance of her father in Davao City. In retrospect, I can assure and in good faith believe that with what her father had already started in being the president, she will carry through being the vice president of the country.”
Presidential Commission for Urban Poor (PCUP) Commissioner Norman Baloro
“The various prestigious awards and accolades received by the City of Davao throughout the years is a testament to the kind of leadership and governance of our Mayor now Vice President of the Philippines Sara Z. Duterte[-Carpio].
Now that she is in a national position - the second highest post in the Philippines, the responsibility will be bigger and the coverage wider, which means more people will be reached and benefit from her plans, her foresight and her dedication to public service.
Her overwhelming and landslide victory in the last election shows that the people know her and the good things she has done for Davao City. The Filipinos are aware and concerned of the future of this country and have chosen the best and most capable leaders.”
Outgoing Davao City Councilor and Vice Mayor-elect J. Melchor Quitain Jr.
"She's going higher up, but ano ang iniwan niya sa atin? We have the upcoming hospital, the City College, and ang daming projects inspite of President Duterte stepping down this June 30, all of these will be continued. She's leaving with a much better Davao who will be able to hurdle the challenges of the next decade. Why? Because in spite of the fact that she's stepping down, we have the national big ticket projects such as the Davao City Coastal Bypass Roads. Very commendable, patapos na si PRRD and Mayor, tuloy ang [Davao-Samal Bridge], and we have the Davao Bypass Road Project."
Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Dr. Maria Lourdes Monteverde
“Among the top legacies of Mayor Sara in her term as mayor in the tourism sector... [are] two major tourism plans that they established – the Davao City Tourism Masterplan, and the Davao City MICE Strategic Masterplan. Not to mention, Mayor Sara was also able to truly maneuver [during the pandemic], she has kept workers and travelers and tourists safe by her policies, and, when it was available, tourism workers were allocated with the Covid-19. That's why the Bakuna by the Sea was carried out successfully.”
Davao Tourism Association President Cherry Al-ag