Civil Service Commission Chairman Karlo Nograles on Tuesday filed his certificate of candidacy for mayor of Davao City, and formally announced his decision to vie for the position on a platform of choice, chance, and change.
In a statement addressed to the people of Davao City, Nograles explained his decision to run for mayor.
“Karong adlawa, akong mga kababayan, kaninyo gitugyan nako ang akong kapalaran. (Today, aking mga kababayan, I let you decide my fate.) But not without first trying to convince your minds and let you know how it is to have a choice; to win your hearts and make you feel how it is to have a chance; and to earn your support so I can lead you to the change that you so deserve.”
“Kitang mga taga-Davao, deserve nato ang dunay choice, maka-pili kung kinsa ang atong gusto, dili kanang no choice na lang pirmi. (Ang mga taga-Davao, deserve ninyo ang choice, maka-pili man lang kung sino ang gusto ninyo, hindi yung no choice na lang palagi.) Davao, and all Davaoeños, deserve a chance to have real, meaningful, and lasting change,” Nograles said.
Nograles said that as the head of the CSC, he had seen best practices and observed the implementation of much-needed reforms that helped improve the delivery of public services to the people.
According to the former legislator, “tungod sab sa akong trabaho sa CSC mas nikusog pa ang pagdasig kanako nga mubalik sa Davao. Nakita nako nga daghan kaayong mga serbisyong pwede buhaton para mas mabati pa gyud sa mga taga-Davao ang tinuod nga paglambo (Dahil din sa trabaho ko sa CSC kaya lalong lumakas ang hatak sa akin pabalik sa Davao. May mga serbisyong maaaring ipatupad upang madama ng mga taga-Davao ang tunay na pag-unlad.)”
The former lawmaker stressed that he is going back to Davao City, his “first love” and “the reason that I entered public service in the very first place.”
He pointed out that “the best cities offer the best public services,” and offered better access to basic commodities, healthcare, food security, education, job opportunities, delivery of government services, and public assistance.
“Kung sa ubang lungsod kaya nila, nganong dili nato kaya nga buhaton sa Davao? (Kung kaya itong gawin sa ibang bayan, bakit hindi natin ito gawin sa Davao?)”
The former lawmaker stressed that he is going back to Davao City, his “first love” and “the reason that I entered public service in the very first place.”
As CSC chair, Nograles still had five years left in his term and would have been entitled to a lifetime pension, among other benefits, at the end of his tenure.
The lawyer said that he goes back to Davao City to “offer myself and my 20-plus years of experience in government to serve you, my first love. Gibitad ko sa akong kasing-kasing pa-uli. Dili nako ma-pugngan ug dili sab nako gusto pugngan. Kung first love na gyud ang istoryahan, wala nay daghang istorya pa. Matod pa gani nila, ang first love, dili gyud malimtan. (Hinihila ako ng dibdib ko pauwi. Hindi ko mapigilan. Ayokong pigilan. Kapag first love talaga, iba na ang usapan. Ika nga, you never forget your first love.) And for me, it is Davao City – the reason that I entered public service in the very first place.”
“Kay sa pagkatinuod ang katawhan sa Davao ang unang naghatag sa ako sa higayon nga muserbisyo; utang kabubot-on nako sa mga taga-Davao ang tanan nakong nabuhat ug nakab-ot isip usa ka public servant. (It was the people of Davao who first gave me the opportunity to serve; utang ng loob ko sa Davaoeño ang lahat ng nagawa ko bilang isang public servant).”
