MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Thursday, August 30, 2018, graced the 49th Charter Day celebration of Mandaue City, hoping that the city’s administration will be an active partner of the national government in fighting illegal drugs, criminality, and corruption.
The city’s Charter Day celebration is in preparation for its 50th anniversary next year. In his speech, President Duterte lauded Mandaue City for its progress, while expecting continuous support from the local government.
“I hope that your local government will continue to enjoin our people to support the administration’s thrust to provide a comfortable life for all. We cannot overcome such scourges alone, and we need everyone’s help in ridding our nation of these ills that have long hampered our development as a nation,” President Duterte said in his speech at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.
The Chief Executive also said that through solidarity and cooperation, the government can make the country’s neighborhoods and communities safer and more secure.
Furthermore, in his speech, President Duterte emphasized the government’s fight against corruption, noting the steps undertaken by the administration to stop the anomalies in the Armed Forces as well as in Nayong Pilipino.
The President reinforced that his pursuit to combat graft and corruption has been consistent, “I promised you five things, which I am complying… I will fight corruption,” Duterte said.
President Duterte then encouraged the local communities to have active participation to support the government’s goal. “Together, let us succeed in our collective aspiration to attain a better life and brighter future for our countrymen,” he added.
Meanwhile, during his visit, the National Housing Authority (NHA) briefed the President about the launch of the P128 million Mandaue City-NHA Low Rise Housing project to be constructed in Barangay Looc.
Mandaue City’s proposed housing project, which intends to house more than 600 informal settler families living in danger zones, is in line with the Duterte administration’s pro-poor housing initiatives.
Under the partnership between the city government and NHA, 180 condominium units will be built in a 4,000 square-meter land area. In less than two years, the project is expected to be completed.
The President has spearheaded multiple housing projects in the country primarily for the members of the police and the armed forces. Similar projects are ongoing in Marawi City following the conflict there last year that displaced many residents.
The administration also has similar housing initiatives for the members of the New People’s Army who surrendered to the government and showed interest in returning to the mainstream society.
