Acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte cited Dabawenyos for helping each other especially in times of emergency, proving that the spirit of bayanihan is still alive especially in times of emergency.

Dabawenyos showed their readiness to help each other during the this week’s flooding that hit many areas in Davao City.

Acting Mayor Baste said the spirit of Kadayawan was extended during the calamity since everyone showed their compassion towards their fellow Dabawenyos who were affected by the calamity.

“Two days ago nag baha didto sa taas sa Tugbok padulong didto sa Bangkal, and then I went there, nakit-an pud nako ang mga tao pati gobyerno, ana ko Kadayawan lang man gihapon ni,” he said.

“Our values were there, we cooperated, hapit ta mabagsak sa patience pero okay lang pasar gihapon. Manageable man ang mga tao. Naa didto tanan present, so we thought united gihapon ta,” he added.

Baste said that the spirit of compassion and the good values of Dabawenyos were seen not only during the good times but also during the bad times.

“What I want to tell you is there will always be good times and bad times and the values that we learned, we carried that with us – in good times and in bad times, in our everyday lives as we exist as Dabawenyos in this city we called Davao,” he said.

On Wednesday night, the Talomo River swelled and overflowed to several barangays, sending at least 3,000 families to the streets and temporary shelters.

Badly affected were barangays Tugbok Proper, Talomo, Los Amigos and Wangan. Several residents downstream were also hit.

The city government was, however, quick to respond to the immediate needs and sent relief assistance to the affected families.

The City Council also held an emergency session to approve the P50-million assistance for the affected families. CIO