BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Despite her declaration to seek for reelection as mayor of Davao City, members of various force multiplier support groups in Negros Occidental are not giving up in urging Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio to run for president, less than a week before the start in filing of Certificate of Candidacy for local and national elected positions on October 1.
The repeated calls made by volunteers of the “Padayona Inday Sara” coming from various force multiplier groups in Negros Occidental, including the Negros Occidental Ant-Crime Group (NOAG), BITAGG Guardians, Anti-Crime Task Force and Mata ng Kalsada, who recently conducted a coastal clean-up and planting of 1,000 mangrove propagules along the shoreline of Barangay Punta Taytay in Bacolod City.
Almer Buño, co-convenor of ‘Padayona Inday Sara’ Alliance and Broadcasting Committee, yesterday said they organized the activity to show support in the calls for Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to run for president in the May 2022 elections.
“We believe and trust in her capacity to become our next president,” Buño added.
More than a dozen of Negros Occidental mayors earlier joined the call also for Duterte-Carpio to run for president in the May next year elections.
Before the planting started, the force multipliers displayed banners which read “Pwersa sang Suporta Pa-agi sa Pagtanom”, “Negros Para sa Kawsa ni Inday Sara” and “Ang Salig Namon sa Imo Inday”.
Buño said they encouraged these groups to join the coastal clean-up and mangrove planting activity to preserve and protect the coastal environment as a proactive way to support the clamor for the Davao City lady mayor to seek the country’s highest post.
“We try to help to replenish and grow mangroves as they are important to fishery resources and migratory birds. They also serve as protection against soil erosion,” he added.
Christopher Andales, founder of Omega BITTAGG Guardians, said they join the increasing calls for Inday Sara to run for president. “Through our participation in the mangrove planting, we show our support for her.
While the trees are growing, we will push for her to run to continue the what her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, has started,” Andales also said.
Engineer Julius Rainier Estares, co-convenor and national volunteer for Mayor Sara Duterte Alliance Negros, said they take part in social activities such as mangrove planting since these could create an impact to the public.
“Through this activity, we hope to get our message across to Mayor Inday that with her as our leader, we can do more things for the nation for the good of the next generation,” he added.
Mary Jane Uma, a village resident and a store owner near the beachfront, said they welcome groups who plant mangroves as their efforts are beneficial to the fishing community in Barangay Punta Taytay, Bacolod City.
“Mangroves serve as home to fish, shrimps and crabs. Our place also feels cooler with mangroves surrounding the area,” Uma added.
Another resident, Delia Despojo, who assists groups during mangrove-planting activities, said mangroves reduce flooding and provides more catch for fishermen.
“This is a big help for us here. Let us help each other plant mangroves not only for us now, but also for future generations,” Despojo said.
Bacolod City signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources- Community Environmental and Natural Resources Office to develop the defined 20 hectares of the coastal area in Barangay Punta Taytay into a mangrove plantation and environmental protected area.*
