Davao City, June 24, 2025 – Once again, Davao City is ahead of the curve—quietly but decisively setting the bar for ethical governance and public accountability.
On June 19, 2025, Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte signed Executive Order No. 09, Series of 2025, mandating a city-wide inspection and removal of illegal billboards and signages bearing the names, initials, or images of public officials from government projects and properties. The move aligns with the long-standing directive from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) under Memorandum Circular No. 2010-101, which aims to curb the practice of using public funds for personal political promotion.
While critics are often quick to brand Davao as a political stronghold of the Duterte family, the city once again demonstrates that good governance transcends political legacy. By being the first to fully enforce this national policy on the ground, Davao shows that leadership is about setting standards—not slogans.
Upholding Ethical Governance
The Executive Order mandates the City Engineer’s Office, City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), and the Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO) to carry out inspections across Davao City and take down all public signage violating the policy.
Mayor Duterte’s order reinforces what the DILG has long called for: that public project signage must contain only the project name, location, contractor, and timeline—not the faces, names, or initials of officials who are simply doing their jobs.
“Public service should never be used as a billboard for personal branding,” Mayor Duterte said in a statement. “Davao’s commitment is to the people—not to personalities.”
A Silent, Strong Statement
While many local government units continue to ignore or selectively implement the DILG memorandum more than a decade after it was issued, Davao City is taking action. Without fanfare or self-congratulation, it is doing what is right: removing traces of political ego from public infrastructure.
Legal experts point to DILG Legal Opinion No. 71, Series of 2011, which empowers local chief executives to enforce the memorandum through mechanisms appropriate to their context. In Davao, that enforcement is now clear, firm, and uncompromising.
Beyond the Name
Detractors have long accused Davao’s leadership of being tied too closely to the Duterte name. But this executive action flips that narrative. By banning the very practice of putting names or faces on public projects—a tactic widely used by politicians nationwide—Mayor Duterte and his administration are sending a clear message: public service is not personal gain.
In a political climate often tainted by showmanship and premature campaigning, Davao’s move is a refreshing commitment to governance that respects the taxpayers, the law, and the true meaning of leadership.