DAVAO CITY – Former Civil Service Commission chairman Karlo Alexei B. Nograles, who is running for mayor here in May against former President Rodrigo Duterte, said that there are many things in this city that need to be fixed.
NOGRALES (Ivy Tejano)
“There are many things that we need to fix in Davao City. We need to improve also. So, mao ni ang atong chance, mao na ni ang higayon nato. At least naa tay mapilian (this is our chance. At least we have a choice now),” said Nograles who filed his Certificate of Candidacy on Tuesday, October 8.
Nograles said that severe traffic congestion and flooding are among the many problems being experienced by the people here that need to be addressed immediately.
According to the assessment conducted by Japan International Cooperation Agency on the flooding situation, Nograles said that the government needs to allocate a budget of P27 billion for short-term and P67 billion for long-term projects to address the problem.
He said while the government needs to allocate funds for flood control here, the local government will need to contribute P8 billion for short-term drainage projects and another P8 billion for long-term projects.
Nograles said that the local government is financially capable of funding flood control projects.
“Unya dugay man daghan kuwarta ang Davao City (Davao City has a lot of money for a long time). We have the local development fund, we even have the local disaster risk reduction management fund na puwede nating gamitin para ayusin ang mga pagbaha sa Davao City (that we can use to fix the flooding problem of Davao City),” he said.
Nograles added that as the premier city of Mindanao, Davao needs to catch up with the services offered in other highly urbanized cities like Makati, Quezon, Taguig, and Valenzuela, particularly maximizing the use of technology to improve the delivery of services by the local government.
“How can we not catch up? Bakit hindi pa tayo sa level na ganyan na puwede naman, kaya naman. it’s just that we just have to give it a chance. Kung gusto gyud nato, it’s really up to us, naa na sa tawo, naa sa katawhan, naa sa inyong kamot, kung gusto ninyo (If we really want it, it's really up to us, it's up to the people, it's in your hands, if you want) I’m here, offering myself,” he said.
The 48-year-old politician filed his COC before the Commission on Elections-Davao City at Magsaysay Park accompanied by his family and supporters. His running mate is Councilor Bernard Al-ag of the first district.
Nograles’ younger sister, Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) party-list Rep. Margarita Ignacia B. Nograles, filed a candidacy for first district representative, going up against Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte.
“It’s up to the people to decide. That’s why, we have an election because it’s a democratic process. The important thing is that we respect the right of every voter to vote in this election. If it’s an election and yet you don’t have any choice, then this is not a real election," he said.
Nograles said that the “people of Davao have the right to choose, the right choice, at this right time in our beloved city’s history."
“Today, I go back home to Davao City and offer myself and my 20 plus years of experience in government to serve you my first love. Gibitad ko sa akong kasing kasing pauli. Dili nako mapugnan og dili sab nako gusto pugngan. Matud pa gani nila ang first love dili gyud malimtan, and for me it is Davao City (My heart pulled me home. I can't stop it and I don't want to stop it either. They even say that first love can never be forgotten, and for me it is Davao City),” he said.
Nograles believes that there are many services that could still be implemented in thus city to make the people see “real development” as the “best cities offer the best public services.”
“Karong adlawa akong mga kababayan, kaninyo gitugyan ka nako ang akong kapalaran (Today my countrymen, to you I entrust my destiny) but not without first trying to convince you and your minds, and let you know how it is to have a choice, to win your hearts and make you feel how it is to have a chance and to earn your support, so I can lead you to the change that you so deserve,” he said.
He added that the people of this city “deserve a chance to have a real meaningful and lasting change.”
“Kitang mga taga davao, deserve nato ang dunay choice. Makapapili kung kinsa atong gusto, dili kanang, no choice na lang ta permi (We people from Davao, we deserve to have a choice. We can choose who we want, not that, we always have no choice),” he said.
People are anticipating a fierce battle between the Duterte and Nograleses.
Nograles served as first district representative of Davao City from 2010 to 2018, appointed Cabinet Secretary by former President Duterte from 2018 to 2022, and CSC chairperson from 2022 until his resignation on October 7.
Margarita Ignacia filed her COC for the first district congressional seat against reelectionist Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte who is seeking his third and final term.
The Nograleses are the children of former House Speaker Prospero Castillo Nograles, who died in 2019. The late Speaker and former President Duterte were political rivals but later reconciled when Nograles supported the presidential bid of Duterte.
Al-ag is challenging Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte who is running for vice mayor, and independent candidates Rhodora S. Barcena and Richard A. Alcebar.
The Nograles siblings and Al-ag are running as independent candidates while the Dutertes are under the Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod, the local political party founded by the former President.
Former President Duterte, 79, and Nograles, are facing independent candidates Bishop Rodolfo A. Cubos and social media influencer Roweno R. Caballes.
Rep. Nograles are going up against independent candidates Rex M. Labis, Janeth J. Jabines, and Mags Maglana, a development worker.
The Duterte patriarch and his sons filed their COCs on Monday.