Duterte to bid Davao City employees farewell on Monday

MANILA, Philippines – President-elect Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to attend Monday’s flag-raising ceremony in Davao City to bid farewell to City Hall employees as he is set to formally assume office at the 16th president of the Philippines on Thursday.

The Philippines News Agency reported that Duterte usually skipped the flag ceremony during his term and left the day-to-day routine of City Hall to his City Administrator Melchor Quitain. He, however, attends flag-raising rites on special occasions.

Duterte was said to hold office every Wednesday for two nine-year terms. He also attends to courtesy visits and sees people asking for the local government’s assistance.

For Monday’s last flag raising ceremony of Duterte, Quitain and some department head prepared by refurbishing Osmeña Park and repainting the Durian Fountain.

Duterte has been serving Davao City for 22 years now. He served as mayor, a term as vice mayor and also a term as the city's representative in Congress.

The president-elect will leave the city and hand over his position to his daughter Mayor-elect Sara Duterte. Sara who took her oath of office last June 22, previously served a term as Davao City mayor while her father was the vice mayor.  —Rosette Adel with reports from Philippine News Agency's Lillian Melejor