Tough mayor meets bright mayor

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – When the strict, straight-talking mayor of a southern city met the scholarly and temperate mayor from the north, the public learns the best of both worlds.

This was the case when Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte keynoted the Education Summit 2015 and shared his best practices to the public together with Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III last August 25 at the Lou-is Resort and Restaurant here.

Duterte disclosed that every town and city in the country has one common big problem: illegal drugs. “Good leaders will not let drugs ruin even a tiny part of their society because drugs will surely fry the minds of your students,” he said.

Addressing about 2,000 principals, teachers, students and education officials, Duterte underscored the importance of punitive justice system in upholding a lawful community without erring police, judges and criminal drug lords.

For fellow multi-awarded public servant Mayor Garcia, there must be an avenue to openly discuss education platforms to nurture a learning society, which in this case was the annual summit of Balanga.

He also shared philosophies from another celebrated mayor, the late Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo, who expanded the school governing council. “As Robredo said: If there are many contributors, there are many holders of challenges and plans. Many will help,” Garcia said.

Duterte and Garcia also met with Bataan town mayors and barangay captains of the city for an open forum on local governance and curbing of illegal drugs.

Themed Perform. Think. Affect: Rediscovering the Heart of Collaboration, the summit gathered educators and parents from various public and private elementary and high schools in the city.

The participants underwent motivational talks with licensed emotional quotient trainer Ging Igual and Silid-Aralan, Inc. President Arcie Mallari.

The summit is aimed at developing the capabilities of educators and to update them on the academic thrusts of the city government.