Mayor Inday Sara Duterte thanked Dabawenyos for bringing her and the city to where they are today, confident that she is leaving a stronger Davao when her term ends in June 2022.
“My heartfelt gratitude goes out to all the Dabawenyos. Your patience in letting me grow from a shy neophyte in 2007 to a confident leader today is a gift, not all public servants are lucky enough to receive. You gave me wings and you taught me how to fly. Your love made me who I am today,” Mayor Duterte said during her Valedictory and State of the City Address (SOCA) streamed live on the City Government of Davao Facebook page on March 17, 2022.
She said the best validation and acknowledgment of all the city’s hard work, of all that Dabawenyos achieved for Davao City, are the awards, citations, and recognitions the city received.
Davao City garnered a total of 118 awards and recognitions from government and non-government organizations from September 2016 to February 2022 including 20 awards in governance and overall competitiveness; 20 in health and social services; 15 for fiscal performance and management; 12 in agriculture and the environment; nine for peace and order and security; nine for economic and business achievements and policies; eight for disaster and emergency efforts; seven in literacy, arts, and information dissemination; six for infrastructure; six for employment; and six for tourism.
Mayor Duterte said, “These are not the accomplishments of the local government alone. These are the accomplishments of all Dabawenyos. This is our pride. Over the past five years, our task has been inspired and guided by the dreams, aspirations, sacrifices, and values that we all share together as sons and daughters of Davao City.”
She bade Dabawenyos “with a heavy heart” as she joined the race for a bigger challenge, which she said gives her the opportunity to spread her wings wider, soar higher, and reach new heights with the support of fellow Filipinos, for the country.
“I leave you with a city buoyed by a stronger economy, a stronger citizenry, with programs and services institutionalized to ensure continuity – a city that has so much more potential for greatness. And I am confident that whoever will lead the city in the coming months will be able to sustain, if not surpass, what we have achieved, and take Davao City even
higher,” she said, adding that she is buoyed by the indomitable spirit of the Dabawenyos who refused to give up and surrender to anything that comes their way to achieve their dreams.
The mayor continued, “But we have embodied strength. We have embodied resiliency. We have embodied courage. We rejected those who made us doubt ourselves. We rejected those who told us that we cannot make it. We rejected those who wanted to see us on our knees defeated. As Dabawenyos — to surrender is not in our blood. Winning is in our flesh. To my family, thank you for the neverending support.”
She also thanked the officials and employees of the City Government of Davao, for all those she has worked with, and for all volunteers for helping her achieve the city’s hopes and dreams.
Mayor Duterte cited the private sector, national government agencies and offices, sectoral groups, the diplomatic community, the AFP and the PNP, Hugpong ng Pagbabago, and all Dabawenyos for their trust, goodness, love, and joining her Byaheng Do30 journey.
“Dabawenyos desire the best and serving you is like serving a god that can never be pleased. My work gave me nightmares and mental anguish but it’s been an honor — a great, great honor — to have been chosen by you. And it’s been a pleasure to make not only memories with you — but also history. Matibay tayo. May puso tayo. Mahalin natin ang Pilipinas. Shukran (We are strong. We have a heart. Let us love the Philippines. Thank you),” she ended her speech. CIO
