Sara takes oath as 1st woman mayor of Davao City

Rico Biliran

June 28, 2010
2:32 pm

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/28 June) – “I commit to being responsible for our city and the failure or success in the next three years rests solely on my shoulders,” said Sara Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio, who was sworn in as the 21st mayor of this city, the first woman mayor in its history after the flag-raising ceremonies Monday morning.

The 32-year old mayor, whose first stint in politics was as vice mayor to her father-mayor Rodrigo Duterte in 2007, spelled out her commitment into BAROG – for |Barangay empowerment, Academic Resources, Order and Good governance.

“BAROG is our direction. BAROG is our way,” Duterte-Carpio said in her inaugural speech before thousands of Dabawenyos who witnessed the oath-taking administered by Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio at the main entrance of City Hall at 7:50 a.m.

Ms Duterte prefers to be called “Inday Sara.[]

”

“I’m quite amused that many are uncertain on how to address me, I’m young, my ego is close to zero, so please call me Inday Sara,” she said.

In earlier interviews, she set her vision in making the city “the premier leisure and investment destination of the country” and her mission “to maintain a stable environment for development and become the rallying point for Mindanao.”

She took her oath with husband-lawyer Mans Carpio behind her and her father, six-termer Rodrigo Duterte who was mayor from 1988 to 1988 and 2001 to 2010, and congressman from 1998 to 2001, seriously listening to her at the VIP area.

Councilors-elect from three districts witnessed the simple oath taking rites of the city’s first woman mayor.[]

Also present during the oath-taking were Task Force Davao chief Col. Oscar Lactao, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Police Senior Superintendent Rene Aspera and heads of local government offices.

Congressman-elect Isidro Ungab of this city’s third district and Congresswoman-elect Mylene Garcia-Albano of this city’s second district took their respective oath before Duterte-Carpio who spent close to an hour allowing well-wishers take souvenir photo with her.

“You voted for me not because I am pleasing.[]

Rather you put me here because I have to execute the difficult and unpopular decisions, ” she told the crowd.

The new mayor slammed some government employees for the various complaints she received on her desk.

“I’m exasperated of hearing complaints about our service. In the coming days, we should be on the receiving end of appreciation,” she said.

“That can only be forthcoming if there is excellence in our performance,” she added.

The new mayor opted to take her oath Monday “because I want everybody to listen to President Noynoy Aquino” when he takes his oath as the 15th president of the Republic of the Philippines on June 30.

“He is the highest office in the land which should be afforded utmost respect,” she said.

Rodrigo Duterte, who will take over as vice mayor, will take his oath, along with elected city councilors, on June 30 at 11 a.m. (Rico Biliran/MindaNews)

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