Davao City commemorates Sasa Wharf blast The City Government of Davao on Wednesday commemorated the 22nd anniversary of the Sasa Wharf bombing.
During the event, the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), survivors and family members of those who perished in the incident gathered and offered prayers.
Seventeen people died in the blast, which tore into a barbecue stall inside the wharf area, that also injured 56 others.
CSWDO Head Julie P. Dayaday told Madayaw Davao that the event is a reminder for everyone that it is the continuing responsibility of residents to help protect the entire community.
“This event reminds us na magbinantayon ta ug ipadayon ang kooperasyon sa matag-usa labi na ang pag protect sa community. (This event reminds us to be always vigilant and to continue our cooperation with one another, especially in the protection of the community),” she said.
Dayaday said that the city government had made assurances to remain in touch with the survivors and their kin, as well as the kin of those who died in the incident. They are invited during the annual commemoration of that fateful day.
“So 22 years naman, nakahatag na ang City Government og educational, livelihood, naa na gani uban sa atoa naka-trabaho na sa city government so kadto sila sustainable man to siya nga mga assistance nato and we are glad nga ang uban nipadayon gyud sa ilang kinabuhi through the assistance of the City Government of Davao (It has already been 22 years, the City Government has been providing educational and livelihood assistance, some of them now even work at the city government, so that shows how sustainable our assistance is and we are glad that many of them continued with their lives through the assistance of the City Government of Davao),” she said.
In a speech read during the event, Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte congratulated two of the educational assistance beneficiaries, all kin of victims, who will be graduating soon.
Exequiel P. Belar, son of one of the injured victims, thanked the City Government of Davao for the support he received throughout the years.
Now a registered social worker at the CSWDO, he said that his success will not be possible without the support of the City Government of Davao. The city extended educational assistance for his studies since elementary.
“Ako napud ang nibalik, ni-serve sa government kung unsa ang ilang gitabang pud sa akoa sa among family (I am now giving back, serving the Government with the huge help they extended to me and our whole family),” he said. Belar said that all of them six children of the bombing victim have finished school and now employed in their various fields of work. CIO
