Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte dismissed criticisms by stranded Dabawenyos that her administration neglected them, saying the city government is doing all means to arrange their safe return to the city.
“We are doing something about it. Wala mi naglingkod lang diri kada adlaw, naghulat nga dunay milagro nga mahitabo sa atoang situation diri sa Davao City (We are not sitting here every day, waiting for some miracle in our situation in Davao City),” Mayor Sara said on Wednesday over Davao City Disaster Radio.
Mayor Sara reacted to numerous complaints and comments on social media by Dabawenyos, who are stranded elsewhere in the country, that they have been neglected by the city government and that nothing is being done for their return to the city.
“Everyday we are trying to do something about everyone’s situation, so everyday pud nagapangayo pud mi sa inyohang pagsabot (so every day we are also asking for your understanding),” Mayor Sara said.
Mayor Sara stressed the need to seek approval from the Epidemiologists and Infectious Diseases Specialists on the protocols and arrangements to be followed once the Davao International Airport will be opened for returning Davao residents.
She said it takes time to get approval from the doctors on the protocol and the system that we follow for returning Dabawenyos.
‘Sunod ana, i-arrange pa nato ilahang air travel. Sunod ana atoa pang listahon kinsa tong mga mosuloday para mosakay sa airplane. Kanang ilahang ginasulti , it cannot be done in one day (And the next is to arrange for their air travel. We have to list those who will return to let them board the plane. What they are saying, it cannot be done in one day,” the mayor added.
The mayor, however, assured that the city government will announce the schedule of when all the entries to the Davao Region will be reopened for those who want to return.
In the meantime, stranded Davao City residents in Luzon and Visayas are given financial assistance through the City Mayor’s Office Quick Response Team.
Their details are also being collated by the Davao City Stranded Persons Database Center (DCSPDC). So far, the city government listed at least 1,200 of stranded Dabawenyos in Luzon, Visayas, and elsewhere in Mindanao.
Stranded Davao non-residents inside and residents outside of Davao City may reach the following hotlines through text message: 0956-2441691 and 0951-0868056 and e-mail: davaocitystrandedpax@gmail.com. CIO