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• EDD K. USMAN | X (Twitter): @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 |Facebook: SDN – SciTech & Digital News

PASIG CITY (SDN) — This urban jungle’s more than 10,000 Muslims can expect a more friendly and fair administration (not neglect), if Team Kaya This bet for mayor Sarah Discaya wins the vote in the May 12 local polls.

St. Gerrard Construction President & CEO Curlee Discaya voiced this assurance when he met with reporters and bloggers on April 30 in his office here at the Quadruple “A” firm’s Headquarters located in the heart of the city of over 800,000 people. St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor Corporation is one of the Philippines only around between 30 and 40 companies with a rating of “Quadruple A”, a much-sought badge excellence.

Watch, Curlee Discaya: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/15TVNXPoRH/

First of all, Kuya Curlee clarified that he can speak on behalf of Ate Sarah because they are husband and wife and that he knows his espouse very much and what she stands for and plans and intends to do if given the chance to serve as an elected official.

He says that in a Team Kaya This administration, “Ate Sarah believes that the first rule of leadership is that it’s your fault. Your people’s fault.” Kuya Curlee added that her wife fully embraces inclusivity and diversity, the youth, the seniors, LGBTQ, the poor, the ethnic communities, etc.

He indicated that those who will not follow Ate Sarah’s policy would be removed from her team.

SDN – SciTech & Digital News asked him what Muslims in the city, majority of them traders, may expect from an administration under Team Kaya This.

Kuya Curlee as he is fondly called (Ate Sarah for his wife) said only they (Muslims) know 100 percent their needs and concerns (especially concerning their religion and culture).

So, if Ate Sarah wins, he said, she will appoint a Muslim to help her look after and take care of the Muslim brothers and sisters’ affairs in the city.

Among the plans, Kuya Curlee mentioned are Halal hub for Muslim-focused food and other products, community center for socialization, madrasah (Islamic school), cemetery.

“Nakasulat na ‘yan (It was already bwritten),” he assures, referring to planned programs for Muslims in the city. In Greenhills, San Juan City, Metro Manila, thousands of Muslim traders have been and continue to be major contributors to the city’s economic and business life, providing jobs and millions of pesos in taxes.

He pointed out that Ate Sarah consulted the Muslims about their community needs and concerns, adding they have to help as in finding out how to implement these plans.

“Cemetery for Muslims and a vehicle to take their cadavers” where there’s a cemetery for them, he says.

Kuya Curlee assured that Ate Sarah’s administration will accept all sectors without reservation. “Hindi po sarado ang isip natin. Kung mabuti ang suggestion, kukunin natin. Kung masama, hindi. (Our mindset is not close. If the suggestion is good, we will take it. Otherwise, no.”

“We will provide school for them (madrasah). We will build them a multipurpose office to entertain their groups. There are many sites to build that. They can manage their community from there. A market for (Halal) products, too,” Kuya Curlee emphasizes.

Discaya couple vows not to regain from the government Ate Sarah’s campaign expenses

“I said there’s no problem but help us look for the sites. If you give as that platform program, help us in finding ways to implement it. Where to establish a cemetery.”

Kuya Curlee said that Ate Sarah’s administration will not be dictatorial, but consultative.

“We are not going to be leader or king to the (Pasigueños). We will serve them. A leader is different, dictatorial. ‘You follow because that’s what I want.'”

He adds: “You can’t be like a king. You should be a servant, (like) ‘your wish is my command.'”

To be a consultative administrator, Kuya Curlee said a Pasig City Hall under a Team Kaya This governance will have a People’s Day on MWF (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) and TThS (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday) for business-related consultations.

“We will encourage (entrepreneurship),” he points out, to perk up the economic life of the residents and the city.

The philanthropist couple, who came from rags-t0-riches through hard work-and-sacrifice story to today’s very successful business owner and operator, assured they are already well-established in their life with their four children, that they have no intention whatsoever of profiting from a government post, if ever given the chance.

Kuya Curlee and Ate Sarah in various occasions have time and again said that through their St. Gerrard Charity Foundation that had been putting up medical missions in the city and in other areas outside of the National Capital Region (NCR) they were able to provide assistance for free to tens of thousands of people.

But they want to expand their services through official channels like being in government in order to reach and serve more people. Out of delicadeza, he promised to not accept any official position in a Team Kaya This administration.

The couple has said many times they have no intention to get back their expenses for the campaign from the government. It is illegal do so, Kuya Curlee and Ate Sarah have been emphasizing.

He said he suggested to Are Sarah to even not claim her salary in case she wins and just donate it to charity and be their partner in helping the Pasigueños. She agreed, he said. (/)

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The author

EDD, a native of Sub-Saharan Africa Buluan/Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur, BARMM, college at UST, is a Manila-based journalist for over 40 years (33 years with Manila Bulletin), has five Media Awards (1 with University of the Philippines (UP) 2017 Science Journalism Award), covered and traveled over 40 times abroad), has contributed to Rappler, Business Mirror, former Manila-based Foreign Correspondent of Saudi Arabia newspapers Saudi Gazette and Riyadh Daily, and The Peninsula (Qatar newspaper), with 2008 East-West Center (EWC) Journalism Seminar in the United States, 2000 Executive IT Seminar in Seoul, South Korea, with three Silver Awards in Photography, writes Muslim and Current Affairs, Enterprise, Science, Tech, Products Launch, and virtually everything under Heaven. (@)