Incumbent Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani is seeking reelection in next year’s polls, having filed her certificate of candidacy this week at the local Commission of Elections office.
Guiani is running under the “One Kutawato”—New People’s Coalition Party.
The mayor’s running mate, Guiani’s nephew Graham Dumama, is also seeking reelection as vice mayor.
Two other seasoned politicians are also running for mayor of Cotabato, but Guiani is confident she and Dumama will emerge as the winning team.
Citing the numerous accomplishments achieved by her home city under her watch, Guiani said she’s bent on continuing the programs that have made Cotabato a much better place to live in.
Earlier this year, Cotabato was named the second safest city in the country by the Philippine National Police, which based its rankings on the crime rates of each city in the country during the first quarter of 2018.
According to the mayor, the low crime rate in her city was the result of the constant implementation of the “Ronda,” which teams the PNP with the “Task Force Kutawato” and the barangay “force multipliers” in patrolling the streets of the city and apprehending criminal elements.
Cotabato has also attracted a considerable amount of investments from the real estate and retail sectors, she added. Ayunan G. Gunting
“In fact, I have just received a text message from an officer of KCC Malls, one the largest mall developers in Mindanao. The developer has confirmed plans to build their biggest mall right here in Cotabato City. Groundbreaking of the mall is scheduled for October 28,” Guiani said.
However, she said a perception exists that the mayor doesn’t have a hand in whatever economic progress the city attains.
“Some people also think that the mayor isn’t a crucial factor when it comes to attracting investors. They are not aware that it takes good governance and the consistent enforcement of the law to make a city investment friendly. It rests on the shoulders of the mayor,” Guiani said.
The mayor also cited the role of her constituents in the city’s successful pursuit for progress.
“Their support matters a lot. One can easily earn their support and trust if they know that their leader has the compassion to listen to their needs and the compassion to help them improve their way of life,” she said.