OUTGOING Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte bid her goodbye to the City Government employees during the flag-raising ceremony on Monday, June 20, at the City Hall grounds.
The Vice President-elect, in her speech, also urged the City Government employees to rally behind the incoming administration of her brother, incumbent Vice Mayor and Mayor-elect Sebastian Duterte.
Duterte, in her speech, thanked them for supporting her decision to run for the vice presidency.
Duterte also recalled some of the experiences under her term from 2010 to 2013, and from 2016 until her last term in 2022, wherein the city faced "trials and tough times."
"The local government never faltered, and this all because of you, and your hard work. Mahal ko kayo (I love you all)," the outgoing mayor said.
She also thanked the vice mayor for acting as mayor, and the other key officials for manning the city in her absence during the election campaign.
"Dili lalim na biyaan atoang siyudad sa pipila ka bulan (It is not easy to leave the city for a few months), but I am grateful that our vice mayor, our department heads, and our chief of offices, as well as our City Councilors managed our city smoothly in my absence," Duterte said.
In the middle of her speech, the daughter of former Davao City mayor and outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte bared she had more plans for the city but she entrusted the governance to her successor.
"Naa pa tay daghang plano para kaninyo apan kini ako na lang itunol sa musunod na administrasyon (I still have more plans for you, but I will turn it over to the next administration)," she said.
As she bid her goodbye to all the city government employees, Duterte said that leaving Davao City has been a "learning, humbling, and eye-opening experience."
"Karong buntaga, tuguti ko na personal na manamilit kaninyo (This morning, allow me to personally bid farewell to you). I would now like to formally bid you all goodbye in the City Government of Davao," Duterte said.
She said her experience of "sleepless nights" and "days filled with grief and joy" is something she is proud to have shared with them.
"It has been an honor and the privilege to serve as your City Mayor. It has been an honor serving Davao City beside all of you," she said.
"I leave you now in the capable hands of the next set of city officials, and I ask that you extend to them the same level of support and cooperation na inyong gihatag kanako (that you had given to me)," she added.
The mayor attended the first flag raising ceremony with the entire City Government employees since the Covid-19 pandemic. It will also be her last as mayor.
The outgoing mayor's attendance in the flag raising ceremony comes only a day after she officially took her oath as vice president of the country on Sunday afternoon, June 19, in San Pedro Street.
Her inauguration was attended by the first family, including President Duterte and his ex-wife, Elizabeth Zimmerman, as well as her running mate, incoming President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
In her inaugural speech, Duterte-Carpio reiterated that parents have the duty to teach children the values of integrity, discipline, respect and compassion for others.
“Let us show our love for our country by taking care of our families and communities despite the unending challenges that come their way,” she said.
“A strong loving happy family sets down all the basic foundations essential in the development and growth of a child... We should never forget that it is the duty of each Filipino family to emphasize that education begins at home,” she added.
Meanwhile, Sebastian, who made his political debut in 2019, is set to be the third consecutive Duterte to head the city. He will be assisted by his vice mayor, incumbent Councilor and City Council Floor Leader Jay Melchor Quitain Jr.