DAVAO CITY”•The City Government of Davao has recognized 93 individuals and corporations who have shown efforts in the development of the city and to the day-to-day lives of Dabawenyos.
Through “Pasidungog” (Visayan for “honor”), the individuals and corporations that made an impact on the city were recognized as a sign of the city’s gratefulness for their deeds.
Among the awarded “everyday heroes” or those private individuals who helped the community is Philip Duterte.
Duterte is a public school teacher assigned in Barangay Gumitan, the farthest barangay in Davao, due to his determination to teach the Matigsalog tribe. However, he contracted malaria and died shortly after.
Duterte’s death became an eye opener to the public and prodded officials and residents to immediately respond to the malaria outbreak in Gumitan. He left behind his wife and two sons.
In 2017, Barangay Gumitan was declared malaria-free following the efforts of the City Health Office to continuously monitor the situation of malaria-carrying mosquitoes in the hinterlands.
Mayor “Inday” Sara Duterte thanked the people who helped the city become what it is right now, especially the people who supported the local government all throughout the city’s journey.
“This recognition is important as we enter our 9th decade as a city, because it serves to remind us that Davao would not be what it is today without Davaoeños and their friends helping each other,” she said.
The Chinese Embassy was also awarded for its scholarship grants given to 15 Davaoeños who will study at the University of Naning in China.
The City recently sealed a sisterhood agreement with Naning, China that led to the scholarship grants.
Naning’s residents even held a cultural show in Davao to strengthen the cities’ sisterhood, as their leaders vowed to support each other and explore projects that can help their respective developments.