San Narciso, Quezon province — Florabelle Uy-Yap, Mayor of San Narciso, a municipality in Quezon Province, said that should her fellow local executive Sara “Inday” Duterte decide to run for the highest post in the land, she would have a lot going for her given her track of strong governance, commitment to protect the welfare of her constituents, and “courageous and independent” stands when it comes to the less-fortunate citizens of Davao City, and towards boosting opportunities for business growth there.

In a media interview, Yap admitted not knowing Duterte personally, but professed admiration for the latter for her political will in implementing sometimes unpopular but pragmatic programs, in her city, particularly those that deal with peace and order, investment in infrastructure, tourism and job creation.

“From our impression of her, the Mayor from Davao City is very courageous, and will go far to protect the people, her constituency,” Yap explained. “As a woman, I admire her because she has a gentle heart for her constituents, and that to me is gallantry, but her style of governance is couched by a strong political will, which is what the country needs.”

Duterte lives a balanced life

Yap lauded Duterte’s obvious “balance” when it comes to family and her job as a local chief executive. “Even during the times when she was away from Davao, it was always clear that she was on top of the situation, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Her programs were sound, and implemented professionally by people under her leadership.”

Yap believes that the articulate Mayor Duterte will be a more “refined” version of her father, one who is more “thoughtful”, less brusque, but will be “just as decisive, a mover and a doer.”

“I am sure there will be some continuity since there are many programs by President Duterte that are successful, such as peace and order and the anti-drug war,” she noted. “But we feel that Mayor Sara will have her own style and ideas in coming up with programs to propel the economy to growth in the coming years.”

A discerning leader

Yap has no problem with Duterte’s reluctance to decide on a Presidential run. “Her reluctance to run, for me, means she has discernment,” she said. “She’s focused on assessing her own competence, and calling for true service Most of all, she is seriously thinking if she really wants the job. This shows she is discerning and not a political opportunist. As a woman, I can appreciate this.”

Yap confesses that she and many of her constituents in Quezon are praying that Mayor Duterte does decide to run.

“When we had a series of typhoons, Mayor Sara sent financial help to us here in this far-flung province,” she revealed. “She didn’t really know us but instinctively, she was aware that as a remote agricultural province just battered by a destructive typhoons, we would need help to get back on our feet via farming and tourism infrastructure, and create jobs that had been lost. I strongly believe she can help small municipalities like ours, and the rest of the country.”

Duterte has also showed her leadership in addressing Covid-19 in Davao City. “Nakatutok siya sa bayan niya, through the surges and lows of the pandemic,” Yap said. “The surges do not reflect on her leadership, or for anybody’s leadership, for that matter. There is a science to Covid-19. The important thing is Mayor Sara had been doing her best to address the needs of her people, and this is what counts when you are a local executive.”