Year 2023 may look bleak but for Davao City and Davao Region it still is a banner year. Most significant development is the declaration by the Armed Forces that Davao City, the once hotbed of communist insurgents, is finally insurgent free. This was later followed by the announcement that the rest of the provinces in Davao Region have been cleared of CPP/NPA/NDF terrorists. We doff our hats to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the NTF-ELCAC and the local government units who, in partnership with AFP, eventually defeated the communists and its armed combatants and seized their high-caliber firearms in the process.
In Davao City, the crumbling of the communist forces started with then Mayor Inday Sara Duterte who unrelentingly helped the AFP in pursuing the NPAs up to the last lair in the remotest nook of the city. No wonder the legal fronts of the communists in Congress vented their anger at Sara Duterte who is now the incumbent Vice President.
While many legislators made it to the headlines for their preoccupation in divisive politics, we are proud of the performance of Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go not only for his authorships of important legislation but most especially in establishing Malasakit Centers and most recently in setting up Super Health Centers in strategic places all over the country. No wonder he remains at the top five preferred senatorial bets. We give him the title, “Ang politikong walang pahinga, serbisyo sa tao ang laging inaruga”.
We likewise take pride in Davao City’s 1st District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte who is a quiet performer in the House of Representatives thus earning him the Philippines Nation Builders Honorary Awards 2023. Congressman Duterte was awarded the Honorary Congressman of the Year for Green Category for his “excellent and successful legislations moreover to its people making him an awardee worthy of recognition and emulation.” We too have heard of many unpublished assistance, officially and personally extended by Congressman Pulong to his political constituents.
We too give cognizance to Dist.3 Rep. Isidro T. Ungab for pursuing the completion of the Sports Arena, a Davao City’s pride. A victim of vicious politicking, he was removed as Deputy Speaker for his steadfast loyalty to Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Moreover he remains in the hearts of grateful Davaowenyos for the important projects he managed to accomplish.
In Davao del Norte, we say kudos to Rep. Alan Dujali for his major projects that benefit not only the 2nd District but of the Davao Region and beyond. Among his sterling performance is the completion of Tuganay bridge and the establishment of fish hatcheries not only in Davao del Norte but in many strategic areas in the country.
We take pride of Davao Region’s development and economic growth. This year we witnessed the beginning of exportation to China consumer markets of Davao durian, tuna fish and tuna sashimi among others.
Above all we take pride of our Vice President Inday Sara Duterte for her unflenching and uncompromising stand against the CPP/NPA/NDF and her herculean efforts to bring the quality of education at par with other countries.
From the management and editorial staff of the Mindanao Journal we wish everyone a Happy and Prosperous New Year! (Jun Ledesma)