RODRIGO Roa Duterte would step down as Davao’s mayor and would be sworn in as the 16th President of the Republic at 12 high noon today.
As he wishes, the ceremonies at the Rizal Hall of Malacanang Palace would be less of a spectacle than tradition requires but bellowed of the Filipino pride.
Duterte’s oath of office would be administered by Supreme Court Assistant Justice Bievenido Reyes.
The inauguration would kick off with the holding of traditional “salubong” where outgoing President Aquino would welcome incoming President Duterte at the steps of the Palace, and walk him inside.
The two are expected to talk briefly before Aquino is given departure honors by Duterte and then the incoming President would return inside the Palace to take his oath of office.
Those who are expected to attend the event include diplomats, incoming secretaries, government officials and Duterte’s family members.
Incoming Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said preparations have already been finalized from the program down to the food.
The program drafted by Malacañang estimates the day’s activities to begin before 10:30 am and end sometime before 4 pm.
For Duterte’s inaugural rites, Davao-based fashion house Chardin has created a Barong Tagalog made from piña jusi fabric to be paired with black pure cotton pants.
“His wardrobe is the least of the President’s concern, but he went to fit his barong. He is raring to start with work right after the inauguration,” Andanar said.
On Tuesday, Duterte went to Chardin to try on his new barong designed by Boni Adaza. The designer gave clues citing ecru as the barong’s color with light brown and beige details to highlight its embroidery, which would depict a pattern iconic of Mindanao’s minority, the Manobo tribe.
“He wanted to incorporate a symbol to represent the 11 minorities in Mindanao. The tribal prints of the Manobo is the least complicated that’s why we have chosen that. It also shows the President’s simplicity,” Adaza explained.
As for the food, Malacañang-accredited concessionaire Via Mare prepared a reception that reflects the simplicity of the incoming administration yet still boasts of the rich Filipino culinary heritage.
The menu consisting only of five types of food include: lumpiang ubod (coconut pith spring roll), pandesal with kesong puti (white cheese made from unskimmed carabao’s milk) and Vigan longganisa (sausage from Northern Ilocandia) grilled on the spot, monggo soup mixed with smoked fish and alugbati (malabar spinach) in demitasse cups, fried saba (Carbava banana) slices, and Durian tartlet.
For drinks, guests would have a choice between homegrown delights pine-mango cooler and dalandan juice.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced that it would deploy more than 500 traffic enforcers to assist motorists in line with the separate inaugurations of Duterte and incoming Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo.
Robredo and Duterte would hold separate inaugural ceremonies. Both of them had opted to be sworn in where they would be holding office.
Robredo would take her oath at the Quezon City Executive House, formerly known as the “Boracay Mansion” where a short program would be held at 9 am, to be attended by around 300 guests.
Some 60 traffic constables would man the vicinity of the Quezon City Reception House in New Manila, where Robredo would hold office.
Lawyer Crisanto Saruca of the MMDA Traffic Discipline Office said the traffic enforcers would be deployed in Manila and airport routes to manage vehicle traffic.
He said no roads would be closed but motorists are advised to expect traffic slowdown due to passage of convoys. (pna)
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