INDONESIA’S best smart city in 2016—Bandung City—is offering to help make cities in the Southern Philippines more liveable places.
At the Islam, Democracy, and Leadership: The Bandung Experience in Creating a Smart, Collaborative and Happy City at the GT Toyota Asian Center Auditorium, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Bandung Mayor Mochamad Ridwan Kamil said Bandung has a lot of things and experiences to share with Mindanao to make it a better place.
“I want to learn something from Mindanao, and Mindanao from me,” Kamil said.
Bandung can be a sister city not of Davao City, Marawi City and Cotabato City, but also of any of the cities in the Philippines, he said.
“If you invite me, I can come to Mindanao. Just give me a letter of invitation. I cannot leave without the President’s permission,” Kamil told the forum.
He said he would also welcome Filipino Muslims and Christians to come over to Bandung to see for themselves the “beauty” of the city.
“I will be very happy to come,” Kamil added.
Just like in Bandung, Christians and Muslims in Mindanao must live in harmony, he said.
“We can be partners,” Kamil said.
He said he is willing to discuss partnerships with Davao City.
Kamil said Bandung can lend a hand in shaping the future of Mindanao, and in making a unique contribution to the social market economy of the region through collaboration, innovation and creativity.
“If you create a stressful city, you create stressful people,” he said.
In a powerpoint presentation, Kamil, an architect, lecturer and social activist, said he was able to address squatting, corruption, criminality, drugs, unemployment, lack of housing, peace and order, traffic, illiteracy, stunted economic growth, and social injustice, and promote good governance, accountability and transparency through the use of the social media.
“I am a risk taker, problem solver, and revolutionary pragmatic leader,” he said.
“I walk my talk. I visit the poor. I talk to the people. A lot of issues can be resolved through collaboration. That is how I was able to make Bandung a liveable city,” Kamil revealed.
Bandung is cited as Indonesia’s Most Smart City in 2016.
When asked if he had any plans to succeed Indonesian President Joko Widodo, he said “that question comes many times.”
“It is destiny that tells where I go and what I become. It is really up to God. My only concern is to use my best energy to serve the people. If this situation (call for presidency) is appreciated, I will answer in due time,” Kamil said. “Presidency is not impossible. Joko paved his way from mayor to governor to president.”