The Global Journey

Inaugural Address of Hon. City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio

28 June 2010 | General Santos City
§

ISANG MAPAYAPANG HAPON AT MAALIWALAS NA PANIMULA SA ATING LAHAT.

MAGANDANG GENSAN GENERAL SANTOS CITY!

LIKE ALL OF YOU, I ALSO DREAM. I, TOO, AM A PARENT DREAMING OF GREAT THINGS
FOR MY CHILDREN. I AM ALSO A CHILD WHO DREAMS THAT MY PARENTS ENJOY A
LIFETIME OF PEACE AND SERENITY IN THEIR TWILIGHT YEARS. I, TOO, AM A YOUTH
WHO WANTS TO LIVE A ZESTFUL EXISTENCE IN THIS LAND. YES, LIKE YOU, I, TOO, AM A
FILIPINO CITIZEN, WHO WANTS TO LIVE A DIGNIFIED LIFE IN A PROSPEROUS COUNTRY.

LIKE YOU, I HAVE HOPE IN MY HEART. THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF OPTIMISM INSIDE OF
ME THAT ALTHOUGH GREAT THINGS AND EVENTS HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED, EVEN
GREATER THINGS AND EVENTS ARE JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN.
IT IS THE SAME HOPE AND OPTIMISM THAT MUST HAVE FUELED THE EARLY
DREAMERS OF THIS LAND SOME SIXTY-EIGHT YEARS AGO, WHEN THEY DREAMED
THAT A BUSTLING CITY WOULD RISE FROM DUST AND THORNS.

IT IS IN HONOR OF THOSE TEARS AND SWEAT THAT I KEEP THE DREAM AND HOPE
BURNING; IT IS IN REVERENCE TO THE MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN WHO TOILED
AHEAD OF ME, BOTH LIVING AND DEAD, THAT I PRESENT MY SELFLESS SERVICE. IF
ONLY SO I CAN MEASURE UP TO WHAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR OUR US AND OUR
GENERATION, I AM TODAY EXTENDING MY WHOLE SELF IN EQUAL SACRIFICE.

I HAVE A DREAM. AND IT IS ALSO YOURS. I STAND HERE TODAY AS YOUR ELECTED
CITY MAYOR, EXTENDING MY HANDS SO THAT WE CAN DREAM TOGETHER.
TODAY, OUR CITY HAS WARMED UP. WE HAVE STARTED THE ENGINE TWENTY YEARS
AGO WITH THE INCEPTION OF THE SOCSKSARGEN DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK. FOR
THE PAST TWENTY YEARS, YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN DRAWING UP A
TRAJECTORY OF GLOBAL PROMINENCE. STARTING TONIGHT, WE WILL BE ON OUR
FIRST GEAR INTO A GLOBAL JOURNEY.

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 The Global Journey
Inaugural Address of Hon. City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio
28 June 2010 | General Santos City
§

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TODAY, I AM TAKING YOU WITH ME TO A GLOBAL

DESTINATION.

JUST AHEAD, I SEE A CITY TEEMING WITH GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES.

I SEE A CITY BURSTING WITH ENERGY AND OPTIMISM.

I SEE A CITY WELCOMING THE CHALLENGES OF GLOBAL GROWTH.

I SEE A CITY COMPETING WITH THE OTHER GLOBAL CITIES IN ASIA.

YES, I SEE A GLOBAL CITY.

AND THAT CITY IS OUR BELOVED GENERAL SANTOS CITY.

THIS IS A VISION THAT WE CAN REALIZE. AND WE WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN. WE CAN
REACH THAT GLOBAL DESTINATION.

YOU WILL AGREE WITH ME WHEN I SAY WE ARE A SELF-SUSTAINING CITY. WE CREATE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND WE CAN PRODUCE THE NECESSARY OIL FOR
THESE GROWTH MACHINERIES THAT MAKE THE GRIND.
OUR RESILIENCY OR OUR ABILITY TO EASILY RECOVER AND BOUNCE BACK FROM THE
ODDS HAS BEEN TESTED SO MANY A TIMES. IT IS A FEAT OF CHARACTER THAT WE
HAVE EXPLOITED TO OUR ADVANTAGE.

WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN POSITIONING THE CITY AS THE TRADE, SERVICE,

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, INDUSTRIAL AND FINANCIAL CENTER IN THIS PART OF
SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES.

NOTWITHSTANDING THESE POTENCIES, WE SHOULD NOT STOP HERE. BECAUSE

WHERE WE ARE NOW IS NOT OUR DESTINATION. NOT YET.

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 The Global Journey
Inaugural Address of Hon. City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio
28 June 2010 | General Santos City
§

SO THE PRESSING CHALLENGE NOW IS, WHERE DO WE WANT TO LOCATE OUR CITY IN
THE WORLWIDE COMPETITIVENESS SPECTRUM?
HOW PREPARED ARE WE, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THERE IS SO MUCH CHANGE GOING
ON IN ALL FACETS OF MODERN CIVILIZATION? CHANGES THAT HAPPEN SO FAST.
CHANGES THAT SHAPE THE WORLD. CHANGES THAT AFFECT US, WHETHER WE LIKE IT
OR NOT.

WE ARE IN A TIME AND SPACE THAT COMPEL US TO RESPOND TO THE CHANGES THEY
BRING. THE ONLY CHOICE LEFT OF US IS TO RESPOND, AND RESPOND POSITIVELY,
PRODUCTIVELY, AND PRO-ACTIVELY.

COMPLACENCY IS NOT AN OPTION. WE SHOULD NOT SIT ON OUR LAURELS AND

WALLOW WITH PRIDE ON PREVIOUS ACCOLADES. WE HAVE TO CONTINUE
CHALLENGING OURSELVES AND BELIEVE IN OUR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITIES.

OUR ONLY ENEMY IS OURSELVES. EVERY GREAT THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO
HUMANITY CAME FROM SOMEONE’S MIND. IF SOMEONE CAN DO SUCH A THING, THEN
ALL OF US CAN. AND WE CAN DO BETTER.

YES THERE ARE CHANGES ALL AROUND US. PERHAPS FOR MOST OF US, THE FEAR OF
THE UNKNOWN BLOCKS OUR DRIVE TO PUSH FORWARD. CHANGE IS REALITY.
CHANGE IS NOT TO BE FEARED. CHANGE IS BEAUTIFUL. CHANGE IS OPPORTUNITY. IN
THESE FAST-CHANGING TIMES, I MUST SAY IT IS AN EXCITING TIME.

“CHANGE HAS A CONSIDERABLE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT ON THE HUMAN MIND. TO

THE FEARFUL IT IS THREATENING BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT CHANGE MAY GET
WORSE. TO THE HOPEFUL IT IS ENCOURGING BECAUSE THINGS MAY GET BETTER.

TO THE CONFIDENT IT IS INSPIRING BECAUSE THE CHALLENGE EXISTS TO MAKE

THINGS BETTER.” (King Whitney Jr. American inventor)

SO, ARE YOU THE FEARFUL, THE HOPEFUL, OR THE CONFIDENT?

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 The Global Journey
Inaugural Address of Hon. City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio
28 June 2010 | General Santos City
§

THINK GLOBALLY. ACT LOCALLY. THIS WILL BE OUR MANTRA. IF WE WANT THE WORLD
TO BE HERE, BY ALL MEANS, WE MUST MAKE OUR FRONT AND BACKYARDS READY
FOR THE WORLD TO SEE. WE ARE GENERALS. WE ARE FEARFUL, WE ARE NOT MERELY
HOPEFUL. WE ARE CONFIDENT. WE WILL EMBRACE THE CHANGES THAT SURROUND
US AND WE WILL MAKE THINGS EVEN BETTER.

(SOCSKSARGEN DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK)

WE WILL RE-ENERGIZE THE SOCSKSARGEN DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK BY INFUSING
MORE AGGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS AND MAKE THE DISPERSED
CONCENTRIC APPROACH WORK TO EFFICIENT LEVELS.

SPECIFIC TO THAT, THIS ADMINISRATION WILL CONTINUE TO ENTICE INVESTMENT

CAPITALIZATION ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR MAJOR INFRA FACILITIES.

FIRST ON THE LIST IS TO MAKE OUR GSC FISHPORT COMPLEX COMPETITIVE WITH
THAT OF THE PORT OF THAILAND, SO THAT IT BECOMES THE CHOICE OF PORT OF
INTERNATIONAL FISHING FLEETS.

SO THE CHALENGE NOW IS WHY SHOULD WE SETTLE FOR THE TUNA CAPITAL OF THE
PHILIPPINES TITLE WHEN WE CAN BE CALLED ASIA’S TUNA CAPITAL?
SECOND, WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPGRADE OUR GENSAN CITY AIRPORT TERMINAL TO
BECOME A REALLY WORLD-CLASS FACILITY. RECENTLY, THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF
FACELIFTS FOR OUR AIRPORT IS UNDERWAY WITH A BUDGET OF 30M WHICH WE
WERE ABLE TO SOURCE OUT FROM THE NATIONAL FUNDS.

THIRD, WE WILL BE AGGRESSIVE IN PUSHING FOR THE PASSAGE OF THE GSC

ECONOMIC AUTHORITY, WHICH HAS LONG BEEN OVERDUE.

WHILE ALL THESE FACILITIES AND INITIATIVES ARE LOCATED IN THE CITY, ALL OF
SOCSKSARGEN BENEFIT FROM THE THESE. WE WILL STRENGTHEN COORDINATIVE
MECHANISMS AMONG OUR NEIGHBORING PROVINCES TO SYNERGIZE A COMMUNAL
VISION, POOL ENERGIES,

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 The Global Journey
Inaugural Address of Hon. City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio
28 June 2010 | General Santos City
§

MANAGE NATURAL RESOURCES AND HONE HUMAN SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES TO

MAKE THESE ALL HAPPEN. WE ARE AN INTEGRATED AREA AND INTEGRATION IS THE
KEY FACTOR FOR PRODUCTIVITY MAXIMIZATION.
(SOCIAL SERVICES)
THE MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCE IN ENHANCING PRODUCTIVITY IS STILL THE HUMAN
RESOURCE. THE HUMAN BEING WHOSE DIGNITY AND WORTH DESERVE NO LESS THAN
DECENT AND QUALITY LIFE, NO LESS THAN QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY.

AND SO, SIDE BY SIDE WITH THESE MACRO VENTURES, EQUAL DRIVE AND FOCUS WILL
BE GIVEN TO A STABLE, SUSTAINABLE, AND RESPONSIVE SOCIAL SERVICES DELIVERY
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE CONSTITUENTS OF THE CITY.

(JOBS & WORKING FORCE)

OUR EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS THEREFORE WILL BE DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE
CAPABILITIES OF THE WORKING FORCE TO ADDRESS THE REQUIREMENTS OF
SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES.

IT IS IMPERATIVE TO FINETUNE AND REVITALIZE OUR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AND

SERVICES OFFICE OR PESO. HAND IN HAND WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND
EMPLOYMENT, WE WILL CONDUCT AN INVENTORY OF OUR LABOR CAPACITIES VIS-À-
VIS WHAT SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES NEED.

THIS WILL PROVIDE US THE PRESENT PROFILE OF CAPABILITIES AND SKILLS OF THE
WORKING FORCE. WE WOULD KNOW WHAT SKILLS NEED TO BE TRAINED, AND WHAT
NEEDS TO BE EQUIPPED WITH ADVANCED KNOW-HOW. WE WILL INTRODUCE A
LADDERIZED APPROACH IN SKILLS TRAINING SO THAT SPECIFIC GAPS ARE PLUGGED
IN WITH SPECIFIC TRAINING PROGRAMS GIVEN ON CURRICULAR SCHEMES UNTIL
SKILLS ARE HONED TO MAXIMUM LEVEL OF COMPETENCE.

TO FURTHER FILL-IN LABOR GAPS, WE WILL PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIP TRAINING

PROGRAMS SPECIALLY TAPPING OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS FROM THE CULTURAL
COMMUNITIES AND THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

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 The Global Journey
Inaugural Address of Hon. City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio
28 June 2010 | General Santos City
§

WE DO NOT ONLY EQUIP OUR WORKING FORCE WITH THESE COMPETENCIES. WE

PROVIDE THEM WITH GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES THAT OUR GROWING ECONOMY AND
DIVERSE INDUSTRIES NEED.

(EDUCATION & YOUTH)

ON TOP OF THESE, OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ACADEME SECTOR WILL CERTAINLY
HAVE A FAIR SHARE IN THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CONTINUUM. WE WILL CONTINUE
TO MOLD QUALITY AND COMPETITIVE GRADUATES THROUGH CONTINUED PROVISION
OF ADEQUATE FACILITIES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPGRADE TEACHING SKILLS AND
TEACHING TECHNOLOGIES OF OUR PUBLIC EDUCATORS IN ALL LEVELS.

AFTER ALL, THE YOUTH SECTOR IS STILL THE FUTURE. THERE IS SO MUCH HOPE IN
THEM. THERE IS SO MUCH PROMISE THEY CAN DELIVER. WE CAN NOT AFFORD TO
SQUANDER WHAT THEY DESERVE.

SO TOGETHER WITH UPGRADING OF QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION, WE WILL

ESTABLISH A COMPREHENSIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM INVOLVING THE
YOUTH THEMSELVES AND ENSURE THEY HAVE DISTINCT OWNERSHIP OF THESE
ENDEAVORS.

(HEALTH)
OUR PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS WILL ALSO HAVE A BOOST IN IMPROVEMENT
INJECTIONS. STARTING AT THE GRASSROOTS COMMUNITIES, ACCESS TO PUBLIC
HEALTH SERVICES WILL BE EXPANDED.

WE WILL ESTABLISH THE MERGER OF LAY-IN AND BARANGAY HEALTH CENTERS IN THE
BARANGAYS WITH OUTPATIENT TREATMENT.
WHILE WE RE-ENGINEER OUR BARANGAY HEALTH SERVICES, A BIG RESTRUCTURING
IN OUR GSC DISTRICT HOSPITAL WILL ALSO BE PUT FORWARD IF ONLY TO ENSURE A

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 The Global Journey
Inaugural Address of Hon. City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio
28 June 2010 | General Santos City
§

MORE EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF PROFESSIONAL AND MEDICAL SERVICES TO OUR

CONSTITUENTS.

NECESSARILY, IMPROVED HEALTH FACILITIES MUST BE MANNED BY EQUALLY

IMPROVED MEDICAL PERSONNEL. WE WILL AGAIN EMPLOY A LADDERIZED TRAINING
APPROACH WHEREBY HEALTH CARE WORKERS UNDERGO MODULAR, LADDERIZED
COURSE TRAININGS UNTIL THEY ARE FULLY EQUIPPED WITH MAXIMUM COMPETENCE
LEVELS.

WE WILL RE-ENGINEER, FINETUNE, AND EXPAND OUR INDIGENT FUNDS SO THAT

HEALTH CARE FUNDING IS ULITILIZED EFFICIENTLY WITH MAXIMUM IMPACT AND
BENEFITS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LESS IN LIFE.

THE CITY HAS BEEN ON A STEADY AND FIRM GROWTH PATH, BUT SO ARE THE
GROWTH OF SOCIAL ILLS. THIS IS A NORMAL CASE OF CAUSE AND EFFECT IN THE
SOCIOLOGICAL CONTEXT. IT IS VERY ESSENTIAL THEREFORE THAT A RATIONAL AND
COMPREHENSIVE PANACEA FOR THESE SOCIAL PROBLEMS MUST HAVE A SUSTAINING
EFFECT.

(HOUSING & SHELTER)

FOR INSTANCE, WITH THE CONTINUOUS INFLUX OF MIGRANTS IN THE CITY, DEMAND
FOR HOUSING INCREASES. WE WILL THEN ENSURE TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO HOUSING
FOR ALL SECTORS.
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE THE SYMBIOTIC PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
HOUSING SECTOR AND STRENGTHEN POLICIES WITH THE END VIEW OF PROVIDING
DECENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS FOR THE HOMELESS.

AS YOUR FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN, I AUTHORED R.A. 9649, AN ACT AMENDING R.A.

5412 OR THE CITY CHARTER, SO THAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT NOW HAS THE FINAL
APPROVAL IN THE DISPOSITION OF OUR PUBLIC LANDS. THIS IS ONE SAFEGUARD IN
ENSURING PROPER LAND USE, HOUSING AND URBAN POOR PROGRAMS.

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 The Global Journey
Inaugural Address of Hon. City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio
28 June 2010 | General Santos City
§

(ENVIRONMENT & SANITATION)

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR HOMES ARE SITUATED IN A CLEAN AND
BALANCED ECOSYSTEM.

OUR ENVIRONMENT AND SANITATION THEREFORE IS ANOTHER CRITICAL SOCIAL

CONCERN. AS A METROPOLIS, WE GENERATE SO MUCH WASTE. THE CITY
GOVERNMENT AND THE 26 BARANGAYS WILL DRAW UP A BARANGAY-BASED GARBAGE
COLLECTION SYSTEM PROJECT WITH THE GOAL OF INCULCATING HOUSEHOLD INNATE
RESPONSIBILITY IN MAKING THIS CITY CLEAN. THE YOUTH SECTOR WILL ALSO HAVE A
CRUCIAL ROLE IN SPEARHEADING THE CAMPAIGN AND INITIATION OF OUR
ENVIRONMENT AND SANITATION PROGRAMS.

A MONTH AGO, WE ALREADY DID THE GROUNDBREAKING OF THE SANITARY LANDFILL

PROJECT, AND ON THAT NOTE, I’D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
CONGRATULATE CONGRESSMAN JUN ACHARON FOR THAT, ALONG WITH THE
SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD AND ALL THE EMLOYEES WHO MADE IT HAPPEN.
IT IS NOW ON MY SHOULDER AND ALL THE CONCERNED TO FAST-TRACK THE
COMPLETION OF THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT.

(PEACE AND ORDER)

THIS ADMINISTRATION WILL DO WHAT IT MUST TO CURB, IF NOT ERADICATE, THE ILL-
INTENTS OF LAWLESS ELEMENTS TO IMPROVE THE STATE OF PEACE AND ORDER IN
THE CITY. WE WILL CREATE AN AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE SYSTEM TO SUPPORT THE
PNP IN ORDER TO ENSURE OUR CONTINUED PEACEFUL COEXCISTENCE. WE WILL
CREATE ANTI DRUG ABUSE TASK FORCE, ANTI-ILLEGAL ANTI-GAMBLING,ANTI-
SMUGGLING TASK FORCE. I KNOW THAT ...PNP, RD,PDEA,CUSTOMS WILL IMPLEMENT
OUR FERVENT DESIRE TI RID OUR CITY OF ALL THESE ILLS. WE WILL NOT ALLOW
LAWLESSNESS TO REIGN IN THIS SOON-TO-BE GLOBAL CITY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I HAVE JUST ENUMERATED SPECIFICS OF THE SHEEP
AGENDA. THIS IS A REFINED, GOAL-ORIENTED BRIEFCASE FOR SOCIAL
TRANSFORMATION AND HUMAN EMPOWERMENT.

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 The Global Journey
Inaugural Address of Hon. City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio
28 June 2010 | General Santos City
§

THESE PROGRAMS FOR SHELTER, HEALTH, EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENT AND PEACE

AND ORDER ARE IN THE FOREFRONT OF CREATING A GLOBAL SETTING. IN ORDER TO
HAVE A GLOBAL MILIEU, WE HAVE TO DEVELOP A GLOBAL CITIZENRY AND A LOCALE
ENJOYING A STANDARD OF GLOBAL LIVING.

THESE ARE ALL DESIGNED TO MAKE EVERY GENERAL EMBRACE THE CONCEPT OF
BECOMING A PRODUCTIVE AND RESPONSIBLE GENERAL IN HIS OR HER OWN WAY.

MAY MAGAGAWA KANG MAGANDA PARA SA IYONG SARILI AT PARA SA IYONG KAPWA.
ANG IYONG PAMAHALAAN AY NANDITO LAMANG UPANG SIGURUHING ANG KARAPATAN
MONG MAMUHAY NANG MAY DIGNIDAD SA MAPAYAPANG LUGAR NA MAY MGA
DISENTENG OPORTUNIDAD AY NAKATAGUYOD. KAILANMAN AY HINDI HADLANG ANG
KAHIRAPAN.

I WILL COMMIT TO FURTHER AND IMPROVE PROGRAMS ATTUNED TO REDUCTION OF

POVERTY INCIDENCE IN THE CITY, NOT BY AMELIORATION BUT BY EMPOWERMENT.
WE MUST REMEMBER THAT POVERTY IS NEVER AN EXCUSE FOR BEING
UNPRODUCTIVE. OUR ENDEAVORS FOR SOCIAL SERVICES THEREFORE WILL ENSURE
THAT GENERALS WILL DEVELOP THAT INTRINSIC MOTIVATION TO HARNESS HIS OR
HER INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL TO BE PRODUCTIVE AND NOT DEPENDENT
ON TEMPORAL AID AND RELIEF. WE WILL SEE TO IT THAT YOUR GOVERNMENT IS NOT
ONLY SERVING YOU BUT EMPOWERING YOU.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I WILL BE TAKING OFF FROM THE SUCCESSES OF HON.
MAYOR NOW CONGRESSMAN PEDRO B. ACHARON JR, WHO HAS LEFT A LEGACY OF A
CLEAN AND HONEST GOVERNANCE. TODAY I VOW TO COMMIT TO THE SAME IDEALS
AND PRINCIPLES OF DECENCY AND CHARACTER THAT HE HAS LIVED UP IN HIS 3
TERMS AS MAYOR. HE HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR OUR CITY. WHILE WE WILL CONTINUE
THE GOOD PROGRAMS HE HAS INITIATED, I AM AS COMPELLED TO CONTINUE
REALIZING A COMMON VISION FOR THE COMMON GOOD.

THE PAST 9 YEARS HAVE BEEN A FRUITFUL PARTNERSHIP.

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 The Global Journey
Inaugural Address of Hon. City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio
28 June 2010 | General Santos City
§

WE WANT TO ASSURE YOU IT WILL REMAIN THAT WAY. NOTHING WILL AND CAN
CHANGE THAT. EXCEPT OF COURSE, WE JUST SWITCHED PLACES.

I WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE MAGANDANG GENSAN – AS A VISION – AN EVEN MORE

MEANINGFUL ADVOCAY TO BE A SOURCE OF PRIDE OF EVERY GENERAL.

OUR MAGANDANG GENSAN WILL HAVE A MAGANDANG SERBISYO PUBLIKO. THE

ORGANIZATIOANL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OR THE OD PROGRAM WHICH HE
STARTED WILL BE FINETUNED FOR IMPLEMENTATION. OUR SERVICE DELIVERY
PROCESSESS WILL BE TRANSLATED INTO SIMPLE PROCEDURES FOR BETTER AND
EFFICIENT ACCESS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.

ON THIS NOTE, I EXTEND MY HANDS OF PARTNERSHIP TO MY CO-EMPLOYEES OF THE

CIVIL SERVICE ENTERPRISE. WE WILL EMPOWER OURSELVES SO WE BECOME AGENTS
OF THIS GLOBAL CAMPAIGN. OUR COLLECTIVE AND INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES AND
CAPACITIES WILL NOT BE CONFINED TO THE METES AND BOUNDS OF STRINGENT
BUREAUCRACY, BUT WILL BE MAXIMIZED TO CREATIVITY AND PRODUCIVITY. LET US
MAKE OURSELVES GLOBAL PUBLIC SERVANTS.

YES, TOGETHER WE CAN CONTINUE TO RE-ENGINEER PUBLIC SERVICE AND INCREASE

OUR CAPABILITIES TO BE MORE ATTUNED TO THE NEEDS OF OUR GLOBAL CITIZENRY.

AS FOR OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IT WILL BE MORE DYNAMIC
THAN EVER. MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE, IT IS THE BUSINESS SECTOR WHO WILL BE
CHALLENGED MORE IN THIS DRIVE FOR GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS. YOU MUST BE AT
PAR WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS IN TERMS OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES.

TO GUARANTEE THAT THE PARTNERSHIP DOES NOT WAIVER, WE WILL STILL BE

AGGRESSIVE IN EMPLOYING CONSULTATIVE PARTICIPATION AS HAS BEEN PROVEN TO
BE AN EFFECTIVE DEVELOPMENT APPROACH.

(COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS IN THE GOVERNANCE)

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 The Global Journey
Inaugural Address of Hon. City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio
28 June 2010 | General Santos City
§

TO DO THAT, WE WILL ESTABLISH A SIMPLE YET WORKING COMMUNICATION SYSTEM,

THE KIND OF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION THAT TRANSCENDS LANGUAGE.
SPECIFICALLY, WE WILL REVIEW AND REVISIT OUR LOCAL GOVERNING POLICIES AND
IF NEED BE, REVISE OR REVOKE THOSE WHICH ARE NO LONGER RESPONSIVE TO THE
PRESENT NEEDS.

WE ARE ALREADY LIVING IN TOUGH TIMES. IT DEMANDS THAT WE MUST SIMPLIFY OUR
PROGRAM IMPLEMENTING PROCEDURES SO THAT ALL STAKEHOLDERS ARE ATTUNED
TO THE GOALS. IF WE DO NOT ATTUNE OUR POLICIES WITH THE DEMANDS OF THE
CHANGING TIMES, WE WILL SEE OUR CITY LAGGING BEHIND. WE WILL NOT REACH THE
DESTINATION.

(CONCLUSON: A GLOBAL MINDSET)

FROM OUR PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY TO THE MANAGEMENT OF OUR RESOURCES;
FROM OUR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES TO ESTABLISHING VARIED
PARTNERSHIPS; FROM OUR SIMPLIFIED PROCESSESS TO OUR MAJOR POLICIES;
FROM THE WAY WE CREATE IDEAS TO THE WAY WE ACTUALIZE THINGS; FROM OUR
INDIVIDUAL WAYS TO OUR COMMUNAL MINDSET – ALL OF THESE MUST BE ATTUNED
TO OUR GLOBAL DREAM.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MGA KABABAYAN AT KAPWA KO GENERALS, OUR

PREPARATIONS TODAY MUST EXCEED BEYOND THE PRESENT TIMES. WE HAVE TO
THINK AHEAD AND WE HAVE TO ACT NOW. WE WILL CREATE OPPORTUNITIES HERE AS
COMPETITIVE WITH THOSE FOUND ABROAD.

I CALL UPON YOU NOW. LET US DO OUR SHARE IN THIS GLOBAL JOURNEY
INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY. WE NEED TO SET THE TONE, A RESOUNDING TONE
THAT WE ARE COMPETING WITH THE GLOBAL CITIES. LET US MAKE GENERAL SANTOS
CITY AN IMPORTANT PLAYER IN THE GLOBAL LANDSCAPE.
YES, I AM A DREAMER. I AM ALSO A DOER. I HAVE A BIG HOPE IN MY HEART AS WELL
AS THE ENERGY AND WILL TO BUILD THE DREAM.

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 The Global Journey
Inaugural Address of Hon. City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio
28 June 2010 | General Santos City
§

BUT I SHOULD NOT BE ALONE. IT IS NOT MY SINGLE VOYAGE. YOU, GENERALS,

SHOULD BE IN EVERY TURNS AND BENDS. I WILL NEED EVERY HAND, EVERY HEAD,
AND EVERY HEART THAT YOU CAN SPARE FOR THIS JOURNEY.

WE WILL NOT FAIL IF YOU AND I, AND ALL OF US FIRMLY HOLD HANDS TOGETHER. THIS
DREAM BELONGS TO US. THE SUCCESSES WILL NOT BE MINE TO RELISH BUT FOR ALL
OF US TO SAVOR.

LET US DREAM. LET US DO. LET US CONTINUE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMN, WE WILL BE ON OUR FIRST GEAR INTO THIS GLOBAL
JOURNEY. LET US ALL BUCKLE UP AND BE READY FOR THE RIDE.

ISA ITONG PANIMULA PARA SA ATING LAHAT. ISANG BAGONG PAGLALAKBAY PARA SA
MATINGKAD NA KINABUKASAN. ISANG PANIBAGONG YUGTO PARA SA MAGANDANG
GENSAN.
MARAMING SALAMAT AT ISANG MAPAYAPANG HAPON SA ATING LAHAT!

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