Speaking to thousands of people who witnessed her inauguration and oath taking as the country’s 15th vice president on Sunday(June 19), Duterte said, “At home parents have the duty to teach children the values of integrity, discipline, respect, and compassion for others.”
Duterte made the remark as she underscored the prevailing challenges confronting children in the present generation that would lead to a “very complex future, one that is rife with conflict and uncertainties.”
“Some of these challenges include the winding cycle of poverty, the trauma of broken families, the life-long baggage because of irresponsible and bad parenting, the abandonment issues due to an absentee parent, the anguish of gender confusion and discrimination, the destruction brought about by drugs, the lure of easy money in criminality, cases of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, the failure to identify and speak up against different kinds of abuses, the life altering effects of teenage pregnancy, the detrimental effects of illiteracy, the emotional injury of bullying, unstable mental wellness, recruitment to support terrorism, misinformation in the internet — and the list could be endless,” Duterte said.
To protect the children and prepare them for these challenges, Duterte sees the need for parents to provide the basic teachings at home and be able to build “ a strong, loving, happy family”.
“Education begins at home,“ she emphasized.
She said setting the basic foundation on moral values and striving effort at home would spare the children from experiencing a miserable life and instead bring them to a good life they are dreaming of and ensure them of a bright future.
Duterte, who is also the incoming Secretary of Education, highlighted God, country, and family as her priorities in doing her duties as the country’s 15th vice president.
Duterte’s victory is historical being the country’s first majority vice president cornering 32.2 million votes and youngest vice president in Philippine history. She is also the first vice president who hails from Mindanao, and the first sworn into office in the city of Davao.
Peaceful
The inauguration and oath taking of the country’s first Mindanawun vice president-elect Sara Zimmerman Duterte is peaceful, according to Region 11 police director Brig. Gen. Benjamin Silo.
He said the Task Group Site Davao successfully implemented the security measures and protocols as planned for Duterte’s oath taking and inauguration including theinaugural Holy Mass at San Pedro Church officiated by Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles and taking into consideration the presence of outgoing President Duterte and incoming President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., his family and
sister Senator Imee Marcos and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
10th Infantry Division Commander MajorGeneral Nolasco Mempin in an interview said there were no protest rallies monitored.
The Task Group consists of more than 3,000 security forces including the police, military, coastguard, and support groups.
Silo has also ordered a region-wide gun ban purposely for Duterte’s inauguration.
Border checkpoints were also established including in nearby regions such as Northern Mindanao, Socksargen and Caraga.
Public Safety and Security Command Center head Angel Sumagaysay for his part confirmed no incident of crime or injury was reported during the event.
In a report from the City Information Office, Sunday, Sumagaysay attributed the people event to the close coordination and open communication between all security units in the city, together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Police Regional Office 11.
“ Congratulations to all of us. The oath-taking and inauguration of our honorable vice president of the Philippines was very successful … We had very close coordination with our multi-agency coordinating center and we have a joint command post. No incidence of snatching or pickpocketing were reported.
So this was a big success,” Sumagaysay said in vernacular.
The Davao City Police Office estimated the crowd to have reached more than 14,500 as of 4:30 on the event day. The number include the immediate family of Duterte, local and national government officials, local, national and international media, guests which include politicians, businessmen, diplomats, security forces, and the general public of Davao City.
Vice President-elect Sara Duterte smiles while she delivers her inaugural speech before thousands of spectators after taking oath as the 15th Vice President of the Philippines, Sunday (June 19) at San Pedro Square, Davao City. Photo Davao City Government
People from all walks of life take time to witness the historical oath taking and inauguration of Vice President-elect Sara Duterte, the first vice president from Mindanao. Photo Davao City Government