DAVAO CITY”•The city government is planning to put up a memorial for the victims of the Sasa Old Airport bombing, where 17 lives were lost 15 years ago.
Mayor Sara Duterte said she is studying the proposal submitted by Barangay Sasa for a monument at the blast site.
“There is already a proposal from Barangay Sasa, they said they already have the budget for it. I will check on it. I told them that if we push it through this year the we will pursue it, but if not we will work on it next year,” Duterte said.
On Monday, families of the victims gathered at the site to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the bombing. A Mass was held to remember the victims.
Maria Luisa Bermudo, head of the City Social Services and Development Office, said Davao stayed true to its commitment to help the children of the victims finish their studies through the city government’s scholarship program.
“The scholarship for the dependents of the victims of the Sasa Old Airport blast still continues until all of them will graduate from college. This is the commitment of the city to the families of the victims,” Bermudo said.
Currently, the city is subsidizing more than 100 scholars, including the dependents of those who died and were severely injured by the blast.
Duterte said the gesture of the monument symbolizes that Davao will not bow down to terrorism and will face it as a stronger city instead.
“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,” she said.