NextGen Day

MANILA – On Monday, Rodrigo R. Duterte, the Philippines’ oldest president and the first chief executive from Mindanao, turns 77. (March 28).

As the country’s top leader, he has confronted the country’s problems with his promise to the Filipino people of “Tapang at Malasakit,” or courage and empathy.

While this is Duterte’s final birthday as the country’s president, he will be remembered for his legacy by his fellow Filipinos.

Consider how Duterte kept his promises by taking a remarkable and tough stance on a number of issues.

To commemorate the country’s sixteenth president, we’ve compiled a list of our top 12 “Tatay Digong” quotes.

On narcotics

“If we are unable to control the flow of drugs, I will declare my presidency a complete failure. As a result, I do not wish for that to occur. Avoid it… You begin to f*** with drugs, and you annihilate my country. And if you annihilate my country, I will assassinate you. Sigurado ‘yan (Without a doubt). Put an end to it; lalo na kayong malalaki (especially those who are involved in big-time operations). I am unconcerned about (I am unconcerned about) human rights. I’m attempting to save the youth.”

– on December 30, 2019 in Digos City, Davao del Sur, during the 60th founding anniversary of Cor Jesu College and the presentation of a check to earthquake victims at the CJC Almendras Gym.

Duterte initially pledged to put an end to drug proliferation in the country within his first three to six months in office, but later admitted that his self-imposed deadline was unrealistic given the gravity of the problem.

Despite his apparent admission of shortcomings, Duterte vowed to continue the relentless fight against illegal drugs until the end of his term.

From July 1, 2016 to January 31, 2022, a total of 24,303 villages nationwide were cleared of illegal drugs, according to his promise.

According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s Real Numbers data released on January 31, only 11,129 villages have not yet been cleared of illegal drugs, while 6,613 others remain drug-free.

Around 327,039 drug traffickers have been apprehended, while 6,229 have been killed in a total of 226,662 anti-drug operations.

Additionally, anti-drug operatives destroyed 1,008 drug dens and 18 clandestine shabu laboratories.

Since the start of the drug war in July 2016, several types of illegal drugs worth PHP75.35 billion have been seized, including PHP63.22 billion worth of shabu.

A total of 14,389 high-value targets have been arrested, including 396 elected public officials and 136 uniformed personnel. On the other hand, approximately 4,170 individuals between the ages of 4 and 17 have been rescued.

2. On the subject of peace and order

“My fellow Filipinos, we greet this day with optimism as we continue to work cooperatively for our country’s peace and security… I am confident that, guided by a strong sense of nationalism and a commitment to serve the Filipino people, we will be able to achieve a more peaceful and progressive future for everyone.”

– on November 4, 2021, at the Western Command Gymnasium in Puerto Princesa Palawan, during the joint National Task Force – Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict 4-B meeting.

Duterte attempted to negotiate a peace treaty with the communist movement during his first years in office but was forced to call off the talks following a series of rebel violations, including a killing spree of government troops and civilians.

However, the collapsed peace negotiations did not deter Duterte from maintaining the country’s peace and order.

On March 12, Duterte expressed confidence that he would leave the office with a “relatively peaceful” Mindanao after shepherding the historic Bangsamoro Organic Law’s passage, which establishes a more powerful autonomous region supervised by the Bangsamoro parliament.

3. On the subject of corruption

“We are not proclaiming that corruption has been eradicated. Corruption exists in this government and any subsequent governments; and in the past, mayroon talaga ‘yan (it is already there). If there is a functioning bureaucracy, there is money involved, and there are numerous tables for the papers to pass through, corruption will always exist. If you don’t want that — ayaw ninyo wala — then shut down the government. However, you have a choice in which direction to take. All we can do is fight it.”

– in his May 13, 2021, Address to the People

Duterte has repeatedly stated that he has a zero-tolerance policy toward corruption.

Duterte’s anti-corruption campaign resulted in the dismissal of several senior officials, including close friends and allies who were embroiled in corruption allegations.

The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission has already endorsed 3,733 corruption-related complaints to relevant government agencies and offices, according to its fourth-year report released in March 2022.

Around 108 of the 3,733 complaints were referred to the Department of Justice and its Task Force Against Corruption, while 104 were referred to the Ombudsman’s Office.

4. Concerning politics

“Well, as I previously stated, I intend to retire from politics. I’m going to start by remaining neutral in this except for a few guys I believe should be in the Senate.”

– on February 25, 2022, during the “Cabinet Report” hosted by acting Presidential Spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar

Duterte was not spared by the whirlwind of politics, particularly during the campaign activities for the May 9, 2022 national and local elections.

The political drama continues, with some presidential candidates seeking dialogue with Duterte and even hoping for his endorsement to bolster their candidacy.

Previously, Duterte’s ruling party, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), endorsed presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as the “candidate whose vision of governance is most aligned with the PDP-11-point Laban’s agenda.”

Duterte, on the other hand, has remained “neutral” for the time being, as he has not yet made a formal announcement about his chosen successor.

5. On the job

“Sana maawa ang Diyos patuloy-tuloy ito at mabuksan natin ang ekonomiya (I hope God has mercy on us and that we can reopen the economy) and that all businesses will reopen so that people can work again and improve the country’s economic situation.”

– on November 16, 2021, during his Address to the People

Many Filipinos lost their jobs during the peak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic in 2020, making it difficult to cope with the health crisis.

Two years later, Duterte decided to further liberalize the economy in order to expand job opportunities for Filipinos displaced by the pandemic.

The economy’s gradual reopening resulted in a decrease in the country’s unemployment rate.

According to a March 2022 report by the Philippine Statistics Authority, there were 2.93 million unemployed Filipinos in January 2022, down from 3.96 million in December 2021.

6. Regarding food security

“Let us also take this opportunity to recognize the critical role of our farmers in ensuring food security for the Filipino people. Their efforts continue to be critical to the country’s food security strategy, particularly during times of crisis.”

– on March 4, 2022, at the inaugural Narvacan Farmers’ Market in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur

Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) 11203, also known as the Rice Tariffication Law, in 2019 to ensure the country’s food security and to make the agriculture sector viable, efficient, and globally competitive.

RA 11203 establishes the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) to boost rice farmers’ competitiveness and income following the liberalization of the Philippine rice trade policy, which included the elimination of quantitative restrictions on rice imports and the replacement of them with tariffs.

As of December 2021, approximately 682,502 farmers across the country had benefited from RCEF’s Mechanization Program.

The RCEF has a six-year budget of PHP10 billion, which will be allocated and disbursed to four components, including the Mechanization Program, which receives 50% of the total budget.

7. Regarding Covid-19

“I will simply tell my countrymen not to despair. Covid na ito natin. Ito ay maliit sa buhay natin. Marami tayong dinaanan…mas grabe, mas mahirap, mas magluluha kayo. This is a trivial matter in our lives. We have encountered more harrowing, difficult, and tear-jerking experiences).”

–during his March 15, 2021, Address to the People

Because the current pandemic has taken a physical and emotional toll on Filipinos, they required words of encouragement.

Duterte accomplished this by reminding Filipinos of their own resiliency, emphasizing that they were capable of overcoming even the most formidable obstacles.

While some Filipinos felt seen and heard, others perceived Duterte to be dismissive of their struggles. However, the President’s Palace clarified that he was simply stating that the nation could “recover.”

Indeed, due to Duterte’s leadership and Filipinos’ adherence to minimum public health standards, the Philippines has fewer Covid-19 cases than other Southeast Asian countries. Between March 16 and 22, the country’s average of 478 new Covid-19 cases per day was among the lowest in Southeast Asia, where some countries logged hundreds of thousands of cases per day.

The Philippines has administered 141.2 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines nationwide to date, with over 65.5 million individuals receiving complete protection, including those who received the single-shot jabs. By the end of June 2022, the country hopes to have vaccinated 90 million Filipinos.

8. Concerning education

“As we bring education closer to impoverished students, we must also ensure that the quality of education is maintained and that its benefits are distributed evenly.”

–during the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Commission on Higher Education and the 112 state universities and colleges and 78 local universities on June 13, 2018 to begin implementing Republic Act 10931

Duterte’s signing of RA 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, into law on August 3, 2017 has been hailed as a watershed moment in his six-year presidency, as it mandates tuition-free attendance at state colleges and universities. He recognized that millions of Filipino youth continued to struggle to complete their studies as a result of poverty.

It was not enough for Duterte to simply increase access to tertiary education; he also prioritized the country’s educational quality.

He directed government officials, local educational institutions, and educators to do everything possible to ensure that RA 10931 is implemented effectively and efficiently. Allowing Filipino youth to complete their studies, he stated, would enable them to live productive, meaningful, and comfortable lives.

Apart from RA 10931, he also enacted RA 11510, which institutionalizes the Alternative Learning System, and RA 11650, which requires all public schools in the country to provide inclusive education and services to students with disabilities.

9. Economic issues

“We are sinking deeper and deeper, but it is not just us…”

However, we are making every effort to stay afloat.”

–during his Feb. 1, 2021, Address to the People

The Covid-19 pandemic has slashed the Philippine economy to its lowest level since World War II, with the gross domestic product (GDP) expected to contract by 9.5 percent in 2020. Duterte pleaded with the public to maintain faith in his administration, noting that the government is doing its best to strike a balance between public health protection and economic recovery.

A socioeconomic strategy was implemented with the goal of ensuring economic recovery following Covid. It consisted of four pillars: (1) emergency assistance for vulnerable groups, (2) resources to fight Covid-19, (3) fiscal and monetary actions, and (4) an economic recovery plan.

Additionally, the government increased funding through multilateral and bilateral loans and increased infrastructure spending through the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program in order to stimulate economic activity and create jobs. Eventually, the country’s GDP increased by 5.6 percent in 2021, reversing the decline seen in 2020.

While it appeared as though the worst was over, the Russia-Ukraine conflict posed risks to an economy still reeling from the pandemic.

At the moment, interventions such as downgrading quarantine status and increasing fuel subsidies to the transport sector and agricultural producers are being implemented to mitigate the effects of fuel price spikes caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

ten. On international relations

“We own the West Philippine Sea. There are no buts or ifs. It is ours… we have acted in accordance with the legal truth and line. However, we must temper it with the times and realities of today.”

–on July 22, 2019, during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Duterte advanced the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea by raising the arbitral award in fora such as the United Nations General Assembly in 2020 and 2021, despite criticism that his administration downplayed the Philippines’ sea dispute with China in exchange for economic benefits.

Duterte himself stated that despite their long-running maritime dispute, the Philippines and China have a “good friendship.” This is due to the Duterte administration’s efforts to strengthen its relationship with China through bilateral visits and cooperative mechanisms.

Duterte has repeatedly pushed for the passage of a Code of Conduct that is consistent with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to govern behavior in the South China Sea.

On the subject of traffic

“Ang traffic sa Edsa maluwang na ngayon. However, early in the administration’s tenure, [there was] a crisis.”

–during a June 8, 2021, interview regarding SMNI

Despite being denied emergency powers to address Edsa’s traffic woes, the government’s transportation officials found alternative ways to clear Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare during Duterte’s remaining years in office through structural policy reforms and projects.

Buses were restricted to a single lane and bus stops were installed along the traffic median as part of the Edsa Busway project. Due to the fact that buses were confined to the enclosed busway, they caused no disruption to traffic in adjacent lanes. This was supplemented by a massive expansion of both short- and long-haul train capacity.

The Department of Public Works and Highways is currently completing an Edsa Decongestion Program, which will free up at least 120,000 vehicles from major thoroughfares, reducing travel time and restoring Edsa to its original capacity.

12. In terms of infrastructure

“We will establish a Golden Age of Infrastructure in the Philippines over the next few years to improve our mobility and connectivity, thereby promoting equitable growth and development in the country.” In other words, we will ‘Build, Build, Build.'”

–during his second State of the Union Address on July 24, 2017

Even with constraints imposed by the ongoing health crisis, the Duterte administration’s ambitious “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program maintained momentum. Indeed, it aided in the country’s economic recovery. Since 2016, the program has assisted in the creation of 6.5 million jobs.

Infrastructure spending increased from 3.9 percent of gross domestic product in 2016 to 5.1 percent in 2021. Annual average infrastructure spending as a percentage of GDP of 5% from 2017 to 2021 even exceeded the annual average of 3.4 percent during President Ferdinand Marcos’s term.

Among the program’s accomplishments are the completion of 233 airport projects and 484 seaport projects between July 2016 and October 2021.

Eight railway projects were being built or rehabilitated. Five railway projects, including the Metro Manila Rail Network and the Metro Manila Subway, are currently in the design and procurement stages.

Serving beyond the term of his appointment

If there is one thing Duterte will carry forward after his term, it is his passion for public service, according to his former long-time aide and incumbent Senator Christopher Lawrence Go (PNA).

Duterte, Go asserted, would never relinquish assistance to his fellow Filipinos, particularly cancer-stricken children.

It’s no secret that Duterte has a soft spot for children battling cancer, Go said, recalling how the Chief Executive donated his home in Margarita village in Davao City to the House of Hope, a charity organization that provides temporary shelter to children battling cancer.

Go’s birthday wish for Duterte is for him to have “good health” and to “live forever,” so he can continue to help the public even after he leaves office.

“Si Pangulong ‘Mayor’ Rody Duterte ang kaniyang pagseserbisyo sa kapwa Pilipino, ang kaniyang pagiging maawain at matulungin sa kapwa. Noon pa man hanggang ngayon nandiyan po si Mayor Rody sa kaniyang kapwa (I admire President ‘Mayor’ Duterte for his public service and for his compassion and kindness toward others. Until now, Mayor Rody has been available to assist the public),” he stated. “Sir, boss, my public servant idol, maraming salamat po sa’yo sa lahat ng natutuhan ko po sayo (thank you for everything I’ve learned from you).”

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