Duterte's Era: End of A Legacy

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(Rappler.com. (2017, June 20), https://www.rappler.com/nation/173505-duterte-iligan-visit-evacuees-help-rebuild-marawi/)
(President Rodrigo Duterte met evacuees in Iligan City and offered to help rebuild Marawi.)


            "EPIPHANY"— The 9th of May was a significant date in our country. The 2022 Philippine National Elections for the executive and legislative branches of government took place on that day. At the top of the ballot was the election for successors to our current and 16th Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and our current and 14th Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Gerona Robredo. The country has 65.7 million registered voters, according to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), with 1.69 million more residing overseas. Filipinos voted for a new set of leaders, including a president, vice president, senators, members of the lower house of congress, and provincial and municipal politicians. As a result, former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr. leads the Presidential race with 31,104,175 votes, while his running mate, Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio, leads the Vice Presidential race with 31,561,948 votes. The presidential inauguration, as mandated by the 1987 Philippine Constitution, takes place on the 30th of June.


      Before moving on to the next administration, let us first assess what Rodrigo Duterte, our current president, has accomplished for the Philippines. He is not the most ideal president we've ever had, but he did a lot for our country, and we should be grateful for him. Duterte is the Philippines' oldest president and the first from Mindanao, according to Wikipedia. He is also the only president in the Philippines to have served in all three branches of government. Despite the fact that the Philippines continues to face challenges, President Duterte has made significant headway in terms of infrastructure development, economic recovery, and, most critically, the COVID-19 response. 


Here are some of his accomplishments during his presidency:



     First and foremost, the "Build! Build! Build!" program, which resulted in new airports, expressways, bridges, and other infrastructure projects, as well as the "War on Drugs," which aimed to eliminate illegal drug personalities across the country, have been highlighted by the Duterte administration. The government has also increased the number of public health workers and provided benefits. Orders have been provided to the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to expedite the benefits and payments to health professionals. In the economic recovery section, it was said that in just three to four years, the annual growth of allowed investments has nearly doubled the country's total permitted investments, indicating the administration's commitment and political determination. The Philippines' economy has also become one of Asia's most dynamic. In terms of infrastructure, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under Villar built 145,000 classrooms, 2,000 school buildings, 5,555 bridges, and 26,500 kilometers of road in the last five years, more than any president before him. For the OFWs segment, his legacy programs also include the One-Stop Service Center for OFWs, the Overseas Filipino Bank and the OFW Hospital, the OFW e-Card, salary increases for cops and soldiers, government worker pay raises, and Balik-probinsya.



President Duterte has signed '133' laws, including major priority measures, in the two years since taking office.


Moreover, the laws passed during his reign demonstrate significant accomplishments. 


  • Duterte has signed the Universal Health Care Act which encompasses the entire spectrum of vital health services and will provide healthcare coverage to all Filipinos.


  • Duterte has also signed the 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law, and the Mental Health Law into law.


  • Under RA 11037, the government has also formed a nationwide feeding program.


  • RA no. 11534 or the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE), was signed into law by Duterte on March 26, 2021. 


  • Duterte also signed laws establishing the Philippine Space Agency, the Housing and Urban Development Department, and the Migrant Workers Department.


  • He also established the 4Ps, or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, to provide economic assistance to the poor in order to alleviate their suffering.


  • He also raised the age of sexual consent from 12 to 16, criminalized child marriage, simplified the adoption process, and began the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.


  • Through the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, Duterte also established free college education in all state universities and colleges, offering poor Filipino students the option to pursue college degrees through free tuition and remission of other charges at SUCs.


  • He also provided medical scholarships through the Doktor para sa Bayan Act for eligible students who will then provide services in government health institutions within their hometown.


  • In times of national emergency, Duterte also signed the RA No. 11517 which empowered him to expedite the processing and granting of national and municipal licenses, permits and certifications.


  • He also launched transnational higher education in the Philippines and signed the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act. for the impoverished.


  • Duterte also increased his efforts to combat both terrorism and the communist insurgency. He signed the contentious Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and oversaw the five-month battle of Marawi, declaring martial law throughout Mindanao and extending it for two years to maintain order on the island.


  • He also liberalized rice imports by adopting the Rice Tariffication Law, provided free irrigation to small farmers, signed the Sagip Saka Act, and established a trust fund for coconut producers to enhance food security.


  • To tackle red tape, corruption, and money laundering, he established the Executive Branch Freedom of Information Act, signed the Ease of Doing Business Act, formed the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, and enhanced the Anti-Money Laundering Act.


  • He  also amended the Foreign Investment Act of 1991 and the Public Service Act to promote foreign investments.


  • For reforming the country's tax system, he also signed the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law and the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act, as well as raising sin taxes on non-essential goods.



    Regardless of his administration's flaws, we Filipinos can't help but admire what he has done for us. We will bid Duterte's administration farewell in 45 days. I am hopeful that the next president of our country will do a better job. Thank you for being the cream of the crop— a tough president in accomplishing your aim of a better Philippines, Tatay Digong.


Source: { if the content is informational/educational, input sources used in APA format} 


(At least three)


  1. Verdejo, G. (2022, February 28). Duterte administration highlights infrastructure, economic performance. The Manila Times. 


https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/02/28/supplements/duterte-administration-highlights-infrastructure-economic-performance/1834480



  1. Wikipedia contributors. (2022, May 15). Presidency of Rodrigo Duterte. Wikipedia. 


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_Rodrigo_Duterte#:%7E:text=Duterte%20signed%20free%20college%20education,higher%20education%20in%20the%20country%2C



  1. Promchertchoo, P. (2022, May 9). Millions of Filipinos to cast their votes as polls open for Philippine elections. CNA. 


https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/philippines-elections-may-9-bongbong-leni-2671736

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