DAVAO CITY — The replacement of resigned Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte is ready to take new responsibility as the second top leader of the city.
Councilor Bernard Al-ag, who is currently the Acting Vice Mayor after VM Duterte took a leave of absence following the announcement of his resignation last December 25, is expected to sit as the new vice mayor based on succession rules although this has yet to be confirmed by the Commission on Elections and the Department of Interior and Local Government.
The presidential son is officially resigned after President Rodrigo Duterte accepted his resignation last Friday.
Al-ag said he was not new to the function of the position because he was always designated as acting vice mayor everytime the vice mayor goes on leave or designated as acting mayor.
Al-ag is the city council majority floor leader.
“I usually took over the administrative roles of a vice mayor,” he said.
Al-ag is an ophthalmologist by profession but he is serving as a city councilor.
However, Al-ag said he was sad with the former vice mayor’s resignation.
When the former vice mayor expressed his resignation last December 25, he said, he and the councilors were shocked by the decision.
“Although we did not agree with his decision on his resignation we still respect it,” he said.
Al-ag said the city council would still do the mandate of the former vice mayor supporting the 10-point agenda of Mayor Sara Duterte.
“I assure the public that the city council will work hand-in-hand with the mayor to serve the people,” he said.
He said the leaders in the city council were helping each other to make a right decision to whatever proposal given by the executive department.
“Right now we are trying to regroup,” he said.
Al-ag also assured the public that the city council was still ‘intact’ despite Paolo’s resignation.
On Tuesday’s session, Al-ag said the city council would take up first the unfinished business in 2017.
One of the agenda is the proposal to give tax incentives to businessmen who will build a parking building.
Al-ag said this proposal would give a five-year exemption from the local taxes to the people who would venture into this kind business. (PNA)
