Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte will back policies pushing for environmental sustainability as he vowed to keep an open line between the City Council and groups pushing for the preservation of natural resources.
During his first media briefing as head of the 19th City Council Sangguniang Panlungsod, Vice Mayor Duterte said environment sustainability and good management of natural resources are on his list of priority agenda.
The vice mayor said he wanted to craft laws that contribute to the quality of the environment on a long-term basis, seeing the state of the city’s natural resources.
Baste is a mountaineer and a surfer.
He, however, stressed he would like to maintain a balance between preservation of the environment and the economic stability of the city.
“I am willing to listen to the groups who are pushing for environmental preservation and consider their thoughts in my decisions,” he said.
But he stressed there needs to be a balance, saying the development of the city must be responsive of the needs of the people.
“Of course, nobody wants to sacrifice the environment or the income of the city”. CIO
