DAVAO CITY–The successor of resigned vice mayor Paolo Duterte on Tuesday called for the support of the councilors as the City Council undergoes a transition in the next few days.
Councilor Bernard Al-ag, who is acting vice mayor until officially declared by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), said his call for support is not for him but for the people of Davao.
“This is not about me. Don’t focus on me. Focus on our work,” he said, vowing to work hard for the interest of the people of Davao City.
Under his leadership, Al-ag is committed to continue working for the realization of the pending programs prior to the resignation of former vice mayor Duterte.
The programs included the training and learning sessions on “paperless session” for the 27 councilors and the vice mayor, the passage of the ordinance granting the tax incentives for investors in parking buildings, and the waste-to-energy project.
In a paperless session, the tables of councilor are cleared of documents but only laptops where they can refer the agenda for the day, copies of resolutions and documents.
The 27 laptops are already available and will be given to each of the councilor and the vice mayor, Al-ag told reporters during Tuesday’s Pulong-Pulong ni Pulong, a regular press conference initiated by the former vice mayor.
The proposed ordinance granting incentives to investors of parking building was up for the third reading Tuesday.
Al-ag said the City Council also expects for the city’s new property for the solid waste complex and the rehabilitation of the existing sanitary landfill.
He would also like to see the implementation of the Revenue Code of the city that was approved last year.
For the waste to energy project, Al-ag said he will just wait for the recommendation of the executive department. Al-ag also intends to continue the Tuesday’s press conference and retain its title to give media updates on the work of the city council.
He would meet with Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio once he is installed as vice mayor. He would also want to take an oath before the mayor.
Although still feeling the void after vice mayor Duterte’s resignation, councilors threw full support to Al-ag.
Councilor Marissa Abella, who has the second highest percentage of votes representing the second district, said Al-ag was a good floor leader.
Abella admitted that like other councilors she was missing the vice mayor but she vowed to fully support Al-ag, the same support given to him when he was majority floor leader.
Abella said Al-ag was a hardworking majority floor leader.
Councilor Jesus Melchor Quitain said Al-ag was a hardworking floor leader and done his job well.
“I am giving my full support to Councilor Al-ag. Whatever programs and changes I am here to support him,” Quitain said.
For veteran councilor Bonifacio Militar, he said Al-ag should disregard illegal acts and must set aside problems, not within his jurisdiction. “he should exercise like what he is,” he said.
Militar reminded that only a few are selected to lead the Sangguniang Panlungsod as an institution. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)
