DAVAO CITY—President Rodrigo Duterte vows that there will be no demolition until he finds a relocation site for the informal settlers of Purok 45, Brgy. 76-A, this city, on Friday evening.
Duterte, a former mayor of Davao City, informed the 227 families of the said Purok that the government is planning to develop their area to decongest the worsening traffic of the city.
“Time will really come that we will need this place and convert this into a way to lessen the traffic,” the President said.
He said that thousands of Davaoeños are affected by the traffic problem.
Duterte said that business is booming and big investments have entered the city.
He said he has found a relocation site for the informal settlers but he will be needing at least a year to provide jobs and livelihood.
“Give me a year so that I can transfer the small businesses of the people, I will open the economy and let the businesses to enter for your own good,” he said.
Duterte said that he will ask his daughter, Sara, the mayor of Davao, to delay the demolition.
He said residents are asking him to develop the government-owned area into a roadway.
Duterte also reminded the public to practice family planning for “your own good.”
He said he pities the children who suffer because their parents cannot afford to give them enough food, shelter, clothing and education.
The President said the government can only afford to send two or three children per family to school because the government’s money is limited.
“I am not a crazy president to lead you into a road that will ruin your life, everything that I do is for your own good,” Duterte said.
He added that the people must make use of the free contraceptives the government is supplying.