DAVAO CITY -- Mayor Sebastian ‘Baste’ Duterte took his oath of office as the 19th City Mayor of Davao on Monday, June 27, at the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) here.
The incoming mayor, who is President Duterte's youngest son with former wife Elizabeth Zimmerman, took his oath before Judge Loida Posadas-Kahulugan of the Court of Appeals during the SP Session at around 2:55 p.m.
Mayor Duterte said that with his first term in office, he will focus on the city's food security and deliver the basic needs of the people of Davao considering the rising of commodity prices on a global scale.
He also added that his administration would carry on the initiatives and governing style of his sister, Vice President-elect Sara Duterte, while aiming to surpass the latter's achievements.
Mayor Duterte said that the former mayor's 10-point priority agenda has been proven effective in structuralizing the city’s most urgent areas of concern, and therefore merits continuity.
In an effort to increase accessibility for inhabitants in remote locations, Mayor Duterte said he would strengthen the efforts made by the departing administration by putting up satellite offices to decentralize government operations and services.
He also expressed his resolve to push for the ongoing big-ticket projects of the city, particularly digital transformation. These include the high priority bus system (HPBS) and the Waste-to-Energy (WTE) project, among several other projects.
"The City Government of Davao is ready to work with all our partners and stakeholders for the benefit of the Davaoeños," Mayor Duterte said as he encouraged all the City Government officials and staff to help one another in creating a government that works for the people, protects their rights, and prioritizes their need.
Mayor Duterte thanked President Duterte, First Congressional District Representative Paolo Duterte, and Vice President Sara as his inspiration in running a government office. He also thanked their mother for all the support and love she showed for their family.
The city mayor said that his leadership style will not be so different from that of his father President Duterte and Vice President Sara's approach to governance.
Meanwhile, newly-elected Vice Mayor Melchor Quitain Jr., along with all the City councilors and representatives for the second district - Vincent Garcia - and third district - Isidro Ungab - also took their oath before Judge Emmanuel Claudio Carpio at the SP Session Hall on Monday afternoon.
The Oath-taking and Inauguration Ceremony, which was graced by Vice-President Sara Duterte and Elizabeth Zimmerman and other local government officials, started with the University of Mindanao Chorale singing the Philippine National Anthem and Tayo'y Dabawenyo, which was composed by Pedro Sanvicente and with musical arrangement by Guillermo Anajao.