Sara Duterte to brother Baste: Heed the general welfare of the people

Sebastian “Baste” Duterte is shown here with his sister, Sara Duterte. CONTRIBUTED FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Outgoing Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio advised her brother and successor, Sebastian, to always heed the general welfare of the people.

Duterte-Carpio, inaugurated on Sunday as the country’s 15th Vice President, said that Sebastian — also known as Baste — should follow the general welfare clause of the Local Government Code.

Specifically, she was talking about Section 16 of the Local Government Code of the Philippines under the General Welfare. Throughout the guide, emphasis is placed on the fact that local governments should exercise the powers which have been expressly granted to them, the implied powers, and the powers which are necessary, appropriate, incidental, and important to the efficient management of their constituents.

The younger Duterte currently serves as the vice mayor of Davao City and will replace his older sister.

“As mayor dapat niya lagi isapuso ang general welfare clause ng Local Government Code,” Duterte-Carpio said in a press briefing when asked for advice for her brother.

(As mayor, he should always heed the general welfare clause of the Local Government Code.)

“There will always be many issues and challenges na hindi magiging masaya lahat ng tao, but kung gagawin lang niya and susundin lang niya ang general welfare clause o yung general welfare ng karamihan, ng majority, then he will always be on the right track,” she added.

(There will always be many issues and challenges where not everyone would be happy, but if he would only follow the general welfare clause or the general welfare of the majority, then he will always be on the right track.)

Duterte, the outgoing Davao City vice mayor, had a landslide victory in the May 9 elections garnering 621,764 votes. – Xander Dave Ceballos, trainee

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