Freedom Day Calls for ‘Political Will’ Says California Prof

“The fight against the modern day ills of society, some 120 years after the nation declared independence, can only be addressed and solved by no nonsense leaders willing to exercise political will in implementing reforms now matter how unpopular.”

Dumaguete City’s Independence Day speaker Dr. Efren Padilla, an Urban Planner and Full Professor at California State University in the USA, stressed, in order to improve the quality of life in the city, local leaders must exercise political will in the planning and development as the “business as usual approach” is no longer tenable.

Padilla said at present, the challenge is how to free our city and the country from the bondage of poverty, environmental degradation, crimes and corruption.

More than a thousand civil servants, local dignitaries led by Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo, military and police personnel, members of the academe and other citizens were present during the 120th Independence Day celebration at Manuel L. Quezon Park, Tuesday morning.

Padilla paid tribute to Dr. Jose Rizal and all the other great heroes and thinkers of the revolution who shaped our nation.

For his part, Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo urged those present to remember the sacrifices of our forefathers to attain freedom from oppression against colonial forces.

Remollo expressed gratitude to all the men and women from all sectors, who continue to support his programs and projects for poverty alleviation, anti-drugs campaign, proper garbage disposal and traffic management.

Padilla urged the public to seize the moment and support the current dynamic leadership of Mayor Remollo and his allies who are committed to the implementation of the master plan for the city.

He stressed that any citizen motivated by the genuine desire to embrace change while taking care of the environment, can actually become agents of change for Dumaguete, Negros Oriental and the Philippines. (jct/PIA7-Negros Oriental with reports from CPIO Dems Demecillo)