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RODRIGO DUTERTE
Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is the concurrent chairman of PDP Laban. His leadership of the party has inspired its other officials and members to follow his example of courageously leading the country like a father takes very good care of his family.
Despite no longer being active in politics, “Tatay Digong” remains an inspiration to Filipinos because of the lasting legacies of his administration.
During the 2016 polls, Rodrigo Duterte got 16.6 million votes, representing 39 percent of total votes casted. He became the very first mayor and politician from Mindanao to be elected as the President of the Republic of the Philippines.
Through his “TAPANG AT MALASAKIT” brand of leadership, Rodrigo Duterte and the PDP Laban became a strong force for reforms.
SUCCESSFUL ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN
Known for his strong anti-crime campaign in Davao City, Duterte wasted no time in eliminating the drug menace in the country through “Oplan Tokhang” that was spearheaded on the ground by then Philippine National Police chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, now a member of the Philippine Senate.
His anti-drug campaign that started in July 2016 was highly successful and contributed to improving the country’s peace and order. Also, more than 1 million drug dependents and addicts surrendered to the government and sought rehabilitation, proving how extensive the drug menace was prior to Duterte’s winning the 2016 polls.
ADDRESSING THE INSURGENGIES
Under Rodrigo Duterte’s leadership, the government whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict was also pursued through the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC).
The NTF ELCAC enabled the government to pursue local peace agreements with communist rebels, put in place socioeconomic programs in barangays infested or infiltrated by the communist rebellion, and welcome back to the fold of the law thousands of rebels.
By the end of the Duterte administration, the number of communist guerilla fronts nationwide was reduced by at least 74 percent.
Also, the Muslim rebellion was also addressed through the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), among others.
Notably, the creation of the BARMM paved the way for lasting peace in Mindanao as it also pushed socioeconomic development in the southern part of the Philippines.
Today, only small terrorist-affiliated groups operate in Mindanao but continue to dwindle in numbers.
SIGNIFICANT LAWS PASSED AND PROGRAMS
Significant laws passed during the Duterte administration include the Sin Tax Law, Tax Amnesty Law, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Modernization Act, Anti-Terrorism Law, the 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law, the Mental Health Law and the creation of the Department of Migrant Workers. It was also under Duterte that programs like the Malasakit Centers, One-Stop Service Center for OFWs, OFW Hospital, OFW e-Card, 10-year validity of Passport, 5-year validity of Driver’s License, salary increase for policemen and soldiers, government workers’ pay hike and the Balik-probinsya were implemented.
The government also successfully implemented the Build, Build, Build program, free public education in all levels, improvement of the country’s digital infrastructure, Universal Health Care, free irrigation, and the Barangay Development Program (BDP).
It was also during the Duterte administration that the country logged the highest palay (unmilled rice) harvest in 2021, or 19.96 million metric tons.
PRUDENT FISCAL MANAGEMENT
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the country’s debt-to-GDP (gross domestic product) ratio was 40 percent, demonstrating the fiscal prudence he put in place from the time he became president.
Also prior to the pandemic, the Philippine economy grew by an average of 6 percent and became one of the most hailed economies in the Asia.
The 40-percent debt-to-GDP ratio enabled the Duterte administration to provide the necessary public services and launch a massive vaccination drive against Covid-19 up until the start of 2022 when the local and global economy started to open.
Entering 2022, the debt-to-GDP ratio was still a manageable 60 percent.
With Rodrigo Duterte’s sterling accomplishments, it is no surprise that he is the only President in Philippine history to maintain a high positive rating based on major surveys, primarily by the Social Weather Stations, until the end of his administration.
His lasting legacy will always be remembered by most Filipinos.