Editorial

Cotabato City’s dynamism

        How many marriages have reached the diamond year beyond the golden jubilee? If so, the couples’ ages are in the 80s and over at the longevity backdrop of Filipino average life span of 67 years. But surely the family life is a continuing cycle when a new generation replaces the old one for the most basic social institution to be sustained. 

Cotabato City is cruising its diamond year as it continues to sustain thousands of families at a time when it celebrates on June 20 its 60th year of charterhood or founding anniversary. By sustenance, it means the local government’s continuing, much improved, and added delivery of vital services… not only for its own population but enticing the entry of economic investments for commerce and trade as  one requisite for sustainability. The people or population, too, has to contribute to the nursering of the habitat. 

Many have witnessed the growth of the city through the years at a time when it has emerged as the center of services that also flow to the adjoining geo-political territories. In our geographical space, the city has become the political seat of the then Lupong Tagapagpaganap ng Pook XII and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and now the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. As a result of socio-politico-economic dynamism, money continuous to flow and circulate, the reason for the branching of commercial banks and other business outlets… and so with the rising rate of employment. Interplay of forces and sectors have come into play through the years that uplifted the state of the city affairs.

Mindfully, we are so keen on the mushrooming of economic investments as our city turns 60 and more are coming and shaping with promising offer of varied opportunities to the populace. Yes, one leads to another… when an economic venture opens, this triggers the opening of allied services. Economic dynamism augurs well to the take in of revenues, hence, the local government’s viability to expand its services.

But sustenance is not the contribution of only one sector but the collective efforts of  the populace to make the city worth its name --- Kuta Bato,  whose derivative signifies strength. Cotabato City derives its strength from the dynamism of the different sectors, the sacrifices of the people who have not left their homes but giving their hopes to make the place livable amid cultural diversity. Yes, Cotabateños believe in the adage: unity in cultural diversity. To exist, we have to act and live collectively so we can sustain ourselves. For the city to continue its dynamism, sectors have to believe they can sustain the essence of livability and act for accomplishment.

The contribution of each and everyone, though varied as they could be because of different needs, for the longevity of the city is already an accomplishment. More are at stake and inhabitants have to be positively dynamic for change. People have to be receptive to change, preserving and heightening those moves that contribute to the mainstay of a progressive city.

We have to move onwards. Happy charter anniversary, folks!