THE LOCAL government partnered with the Davao Fil-Chinese Multi-Sectoral Association to turn over 500 new luggage trolleys to the Davao International Airport on Monday, May 27.
Mayor Sebastian Duterte, Chinese Consul General in Davao Zhao Xiuzhen, Davao FiL-Chinese Multi-Sectoral Organization president Johnny Tan, other Fil-Chinese stakeholders, Davao City Promotion and Investment Center unit head Christian Cambaya, and CAAP XI area center manager Engr. Rex Obcena attended the turnover ceremony.
In his speech, Duterte thanked the association for its donation, proving the mutual respect and good rapport between the city government and the local Fil-Chinese community.
Obcena, who accepted the pushcarts on behalf of CAAP, also expressed his gratitude to the mayor and the donors.
Obcena said that with the future turnover of the airport’s management to the city, Davaoeños won’t have to wait for long for a world-class, city-managed Davao International Airport.
In his speech, Duterte spoke of the “shared effort of the local government and the private sector” in community development. He said the help from the Fil-Chinese community could not come at a more fortunate time especially since the city has been positioning itself as a major tourism and investment hub in the country.
He said the local government recognizes the merits of economic partnership and people-to-people exchange born out of mutual respect and understanding of foreign cultures.
“This is not only for the city but also for the entire Davao Region as this is the only functioning airport in Region XI,” he added.
The mayor also asked the DOTR to fast-track the turnover of the airport management to the Davao International Airport Authority (DIAA).
Early this month, the 20th City Council passed a resolution urging the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to expedite the transfer of management of the Davao International Airport from the CAAP to the DIAA.
