DBe responsible citizens by doing your share for the country. This was the message given by Tagbilaran Mayor Dan Lim on the country's observance of its 112 th Independence Day. Lim gave the message over his radio program on Station DyTR Saturday although the official observance declared by Malacañang is Monday yet. “During this observance, let us promise ourselves and the God that we worship that we will strive for change and development in our lives. Let us begin by making ourselves responsible citizens to the community and the country,” he declared. The mayor lamented the double-standards employed by many Filipinos. “For instance, we want peace and order in our society, but we do not want to do our part in ensuring this,” he noted. Lim said that many people who are aware that their neighbors or even members of their own families are involved in criminal activities refuse to report them to authorities.

“There are many people who strongly demand appropriate services from the government but refuse to perform their responsibilities such as paying the right taxes and the right wages to their employees,” he added. The mayor said this can only mean one thing: that in this world no one can say that he is faultless. “In this case, we do not have the right to condemn others because we ourselves are also guilty of violations,” he added. Without directly referring to anyone in particular, the mayor said that before people pass judgment on others, they should also look at themselves in the mirror before doing so. Lim noted that like many things in life, independence is not absolute. “For every right there is a corresponding responsibility,” he pointed out. The mayor said that while people have the right to express what they feel, they also have a responsibility to see to it that they do not violate the rights of others. “We all know that it is always easy to demand from others what we are not ready to give ourselves,” he added.

The mayor said one point he would like to make is that there are people who are not ready to exercise their freedom in the right context. “For instance, the right to possess firearms is not absolute,” he noted. While there are people who have the legitimate right to own guns because they are psychologically fit to do so, there are also many who should not be given the same right. “Are we going to give the same right to people who are capable of using it to threaten and intimidate others or to use it even against members of their own families?” he asked. The mayor also noted that the freedom to expression carries with it the responsibility to be truthful and honest. “It should not be used to abuse and humiliate others who do not share their views,” he added. The mayor said that for as long as people only demand what they want from the government and yet refuse to do their share, there will be no progress and development. “It is about the golden rule – do to other people what you want other people to do for you,” he stressed.