Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte said she agrees with President Rodrigo Duterte’s move to place the city at the bottom of the list of areas to benefit from infrastructure projects.
In a statement in her Facebook page, the presidential daughter admitted that these remarks from the President during his final State of the Nation Address (SONA) immediately struck her.
“With all due respect to the Dabawenyos, I agree with that, to give more of it to those who have not received it yet, and to focus on the priority of those in greater need,” Mayor Duterte said.
During his SONA, the President mentioned that the Sorsogon City Coastal By-Pass Road’s target completion is set at the end of 2021 while the Davao City Coastal Road will be completed by 2023.
“Why is Davao last? Because I told them to prioritize the entire country.”
“Why? Why is Davao last? Because I told them to prioritize the entire country. During the initial years of my presidency, I told the economic managers and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), including Art Tugade of Transportation, prioritize Luzon and other areas such as Mindanao. Do not look into the political entrails of the city and the other provinces,” he said.
He, meanwhile, asked Dabawenyos for their understanding.
“Make Davao the last priority.”
“You must understand that we cannot really unahin natin iyong — kasi taga diyan ako eh (I am from Davao). If I am not from Davao, it would have been finished as the others. But I said, make Davao the last priority,” the President stressed.
