Duterte says Merry Christmas to Davao for the last time as mayor

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – For the last time, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte yesterday greeted his constituents for the holidays as their local chief executive.

“This is the last time to greet you as mayor. My life will never be the same again. If I lose, I will still be around but retired. If I win as president, then I have to work because there are promises to keep,” Duterte said over his weekly TV program Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa.

Duterte also said he is “ready” to accept his fate if he would lose or win in the presidential race.

“If I lose, I will not lose sleep over it. I will not die if I do not make it to the presidency. But should I win, I am also ready to keep the promises I made,” he added.

Duterte has spent almost 40 years in government service. He was first elected as mayor at age 43.

“I have done so much for government for the past 40 years of my life spent in public service, and it is about time for me to retire,” he said, adding that he is in his sunset years as a government official.

Duterte’s leadership has been credited for the complete turnaround of Davao City from being known as ‘killing fields’ of the communist movement in the early 1980s to a well-developed city.

He issued local ordinances banning the use and sale of firecrackers and pyrotechnical materials, and sale of liquor at certain hours.

He also prohibited smoking in buildings and public places and implemented speed limit for motorists in some areas in the city, which resulted in reduced number of vehicular accidents.

The mayor is also behind the establishment of the Davao CIty 911 Central Emergency Response Center, which has over three dozen ambulances with emergency response team ready round-the-clock.

The 911 center also responds to other emergencies like fire, police operations, and search and rescue.