RODRIGO Duterte personifies the opposite of the wolf in sheep's clothing. Such is evident in his longing for peace, freedom, progress and commitment.
People love him for his humility and compassion yet strong, adamant stand that says criminals must not harass government and the law-abiding citizens, instead government should be the one to harass the enemies of peace.
Inheriting a depraved sports and sports management in Davao City, Mayor Duterte has reversed the situation and implemented micro-management of sports through his Executive Assistant Christopher Lawrence Go where allocation of the budget was “federalized” in an equal distribution of subsidies to all the activities and tournaments of all sports associations.
Bong Go himself played the games as a lowly but active form of gratification. He imposed an effective reward system that directly distributes medals and cash awards to individual winners.
After cleaning up sports, which was left by the ghosts of previous administrations, programmed management went back to the City Sports Development Division, which remains directly under the City Mayor’s Office.
Last Christmas, outside the spots festival, Abap-Davao president Edgar Ramos Ibuyan fulfills his annual tradition of “Santa Kap is coming to town” caravan of making the rounds for the madlang people of Quezon Boulevard and everywhere in his red and white long sleeves Santa garb enduring the heat of the sun, morning till sundown.
The First District Councilor with Barangay Captain Jun Ibuyan and the “reindeers” were distributing goodies and foods as part of the Pasko Fiesta and Mayor Duterte and Vice-Mayor Paolo Duterte’s target of a zero-hunger celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Meanwhile, the sports media should not turn a deaf ear on the outcry of self-determination from Batanes to Jolo, neither should media have insecurities on its idealism.
The giants of broadcasting and print have long been practicing provincial autonomy with the operations of their regional network groups.
Likewise, the Philippine Daily Inquirer has been operating a fully computerized modern reprinting plant in Maa, this city that is why even as early as 6 o’clock am one can have a crisp copy of the sports pages.
However, both TV and print are sorely lacking in local vigor and void of regional representations in the front pages, more so in the sports headlines. Federalism will reverse the situation and give equal chances and recognition to all citizens. Good governance which Mayor Duterte espouses can be realized through a federal system that promotes a great deal of cooperation, mutual support and adjustments in the relations between the Federal Government (National) and the States or the regional governments.
Compared to the traditional unitary system compose of Congress, the President and the national bureaucracy, the Federal system of government can correct or even wipe out Metro Manila’s regard of the “promdi” local governments as subordinate and dependent political institutions. The Federal system of government that Mayor Duterte is working on needs all our support as this will end local governments lament of Imperial Manila’s regard of the so-called LGUs as colonies and wards.