LOCAL officials of Davao City are alarmed by the rising volume of illicit cigarettes and vape products circulating lately, and they must take drastic measures to stamp out smuggling activities and the prevalence of vape products to protect the city’s reputation as a safe destination. The easy access to these products poses a threat to the city’s youth, and the influx of untaxed cigarettes could negatively impact the city’s finances, as legitimate cigarette sales may be affected by competition from tax-free products. It is time for local officials to work closely with the police to address this growing menace. Meanwhile, the city’s roads are also a concern, with undamaged concrete roads being overlaid with asphalt, and some portions of cemented roads being deliberately destroyed and repaired, prompting questions about the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) priorities and budget allocation, which could have been used for more pressing projects such as farm-to-market roads, foot bridges, and deep well pumps in rural areas, instead of funding easy-to-access projects like asphalt overlaying in the city’s business district, leaving residents of remote areas like Sitio Pigalongan in Marilog District to struggle with limited access to basic necessities.
