The City Government of Davao, through the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), commemorated the 20th year since the terrorist attack at Sasa Wharf on Monday afternoon.
The attack on April 2, 2003 left 17 people dead and 56 others injured.
Mondayâs commemoration was attended by Vice Mayor J Melchor Quitain Jr., Task Force Davao Commander Lt Col Darren Comia, Davao City Police Office Director PCol Alberto Lupaz, CSWDO acting assistant head Gilda Salvaña, city government department heads, and other public officials who lit candles and offered flowers.
Reading a message from Mayor Sebastian Duterte, Quitain said the bombing in Sasa Airport and Sasa Wharf in 2003 led to the formation of a stronger and more cohesive security cluster in the city.
âThe bombings in the Old Airport and here at the Sasa Wharf in the year 2003 changed the course of cityâs history and left us with many hard lessonsâ lessons that we keep in our minds to this very day. It is for this reason that the city government and all our security units remain committed to doing all that we can to ensure that such unspeakable tragedy never happens again,â Quitain, quoting the mayor, said.
âBut we cannot do it alone, we need everyoneâs help. And so, let this commemoration serve as a reminder to everyone that we must keep working together in order to eliminate the threats to our safety and security,â he added.
The vice mayor also called on Dabawenyos âto volunteer, report, remind and participateâ as these actions help in the âongoing campaign for sustainable peace in the city so that we may all protect our loved ones from harm.â
Under the CSWDOâs education assistance program, a total of 15 dependents of the victims and survivors of the Sasa Wharf bombing have graduated from tertiary school. The CSWDO continues to assist survivors and the victimsâ dependents. CIO
