Another first: Mindanaoan president addresses Mindanaoan-led Congress
July 25, 2016 | 8:39pm
DAVAO City, Philippines -- President Rodrigo Duterte's administration marked another first as two of his allies from the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and fellow Mindanaoans were elected to the country's top positions.
Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alavarez was named as speaker of the House of Representatives by a landslide 251 votes on Monday while Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III got 20 votes to become the new Senate president hours before the president's first State of the Nation Address.
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, in a statement released earlier described the election of Pimentel and Alvarez as both auspicious and timely.
"Three of the country's top leaders are from Mindanao," Andanar said.
Pimentel hails from Cagayan de Oro while Alvarez is from Davao del Norte.
"We look forward to a proactive cooperation between the executive and legislative branches," Andanar, who is from Cagayan de Oro and Surigao City, added.
Andanar hopes that having Pimentel and Alvarez leading Congress would "expeditiously address issues and concerns regarding President Rodrigo Duterte's priority legislative measures for the Filipino people, particularly the reinstatement of death penalty to fight drugs and heinous crimes."
The two are also expected to help with the amendments to the Constitution to pave the way for federalism, and reforms to achieve his 10-point economic agenda.
'Paradigm shift'
Several opinions from Davao City's prominent figures also poured out upon knowledge of the news.
Department of Tourism-Davao Region Director Roberto Alabado, III said that the politicians now have the opportunity to lead the country using Mindanao's brand of governance.
"Our region has numerous lessons on local governance, resource management, peace building, cultural integration and religious unity that they can share with the rest of the Philippines," Alabado added.
Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's head Michael Aportadera was enthusiastic and said, "it's about time!for ages Mindanao has not been given its due.This is now the paradigm shift."
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