How are you going to generate jobs for them?
GARCIA: Bring investors here to generate jobs. But how can you entice investors to come? Ensure peace and order. Put up the necessary infrastructures because that is what the investors need to set up business. I believe that tourism also presents a good potential because of the beautiful beaches that we have. The nightlife here is good. Other Asian countries also have their beaches as come-ons. The more tourists coming in, the more money will come, too. Because there are many services allied in tourism industry, right? Every tourist who comes here spends a minimum of $100 a day. You need tour operators, tour guides, restaurants, there will be a domino effect because there are many allied services associated with tourism. That is something that we should give attention.
Villagers in the district demand infrastructure. davaotoday.com photo by Grace Uddin
DUREZA: To generate jobs, we need more investors to come. Unlike in manufacturing, the government cannot hire people every now and then. The only way to address the problem is for the city to provide an atmosphere for the investors to go. They will come here to put up their businesses and in effect they will be able to hire people to work in the industries or companies. So that is what we are going to do, we will invite businessmen to invest here in Davao so our constituents will have jobs.
APORTADERA: We have the long-range program, which is the introduction of infrastructure development like developing the wharf into a world-class wharf. It would generate lots of employment not only in District Two but also in the entire Davao city. There are so many infrastructure projects being provided for District Two, but the question is, they still don’t have jobs. The short term would be to request the contractors or developers coming in District Two to employ majority of their workers from District Two. In my experience, during an interview with the constituents, a good number of these projects employ laborers outside District Two. The approach would be ask the developer a certain percentage, or majority of the laborers should come from District Two, then the rest can come from District One, District Three. Now, if they will not be persuaded, and there is need for legislation, then as a congressman, I will pursue that. So that will be our approach for employment. The immediate is to require, request the contractor to have an allocation for District Two laborers while the long term is building of infrastructures that will generate labor like wharf, expansion. It is part of my Comprehensive Structure Development Plan. A congressman has only a three-year term but you lay the foundation for a long term. At least we can start. It is a national effort but through the initiative of the congressman, we have been receiving requests from the businessmen in the city to modernize our seaport. We should make it an international class port just like in Cebu. We are deprived of opportunity to have more income, more jobs with the modern port. This is more a neglect by the present congressional leadership. I don’t know why.
BATUCAN: Provide micro-finance facility where they can easily borrow money. They dont have to go to the banks but only in the barangays if they will need money. That is part of my program.
2007 Elections
