By Junex Doronio
DAVAO CITY — Dabawenyos took pride with Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte after he was recognized for his dedicated public service and was awarded “Congressman of the Year” at the Nation Builders awarding ceremony held in Manila on November 30, coinciding with the birth anniversary of revolutionary hero and his prominent Brother Mason Andres Bonifacio.
In a Facebook post, Cong Pulong — who has emerged as a strong senatorial contender in 2025 in recent surveys –shared his appreciation for the honor and vowed to pursue legislations aimed at improving the lives of Filipinos.
“This is for every Dabawenyo, for every Filipino people! Let us continue working together to institutionalize enabling mechanisms for the families to have a better future,” he said.
Like Bonifacio, Jose Rizal, US President George Washington and many others, the Davao lawmaker is a member of Freemasonry, the world’s oldest and largest fraternity.
Dabawenyos told Maharlika NuMedia that the award was a testament to Duterte’s “excellent and successful legislations” that contributed to well-being of the people and made him worthy of emulation.
The young Duterte said: “We have been awarded as Congressman of the Year at the National Builders Honorary Awards 2023! Thank you for the recognition of our public service!”
Duterte has recently introduced a measure defining and penalizing abuse, exploitation, and neglect of vulnerable elderly persons and persons with disabilities.
If his bill is passed into law, any person found guilty of committing the said act or acts of abuses on SCs and PWDs shall be punished by one to five years imprisonment and a fine ranging from P10,000 to P100,000.
“In the country, the senior citizens and persons with disabilities remain to be the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in several facets of society notwithstanding the initiatives being taken by the state to provide them adequate and comprehensive support programs,” the young lawmaker from Davao City said in the bill.
(AI/MNM)
