Davao City mulls memorial monument for airport blast victims

DAVAO CITY — The city government is mulling on putting up a memorial monument for the victims of the Davao City old airport bombing in Sasa that left 17 people dead and several others wounded 15 years ago.

This was bared by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in an interview following the proposal of Barangay Sasa officials for the construction of the memorial monument at the blast site at the old airport. The old airport now houses the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

“There is already a proposal from Barangay Sasa, they (officials) said they already have the budget. I will check on it. I told them that if we push it through this year then we will pursue it, but if not we will work on it next year,” the mayor said.

The families of the victims on Monday commemorated the 15th year anniversary of the bombing with a mass for the victims.

Meanwhile, Maria Luisa Bermudo, head of the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO), said the city has continued to sponsor the education of the survivors and the family members of those who perished in the incident through the city’s scholarship program.

“The scholarship for the dependents of the victims of the Sasa old airport blast will continue until all of them will graduate from college. This is the commitment of the city to the families of the victims,” Bermudo said.

There are still more than 100 scholars, including the dependents of those who died or those who were severely wounded during the incident.

The mayor said the gesture of the city symbolizes its firm stance not to bow down to terrorism but would face it as a stronger city.

“We will show to those who would like to spread terror here in Davao that we will not bow down to them. We will help each other, and they will not succeed,” he mayor stressed. (Funny Pearl Gajunera/PNA)

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