President Rodrigo Duterte and his Sparkling Accomplishments

President Rodrigo Duterte and his Sparkling Accomplishments

As mayor of Davao City, Rodrigo Roa Duterte embarked to campaign the shift to a federal form of government to give a chance to Mindanao and other regions an  independent management to equally share the development being controlled by metropolitan area of Manila. Noticing the interest of the people and the crowd being gathered in every province of Luzon were he lectured the federal system of government, Duterte was eyed as a possible candidate for presidential election in 2016.  But he was not interested to run in the election until such time the deadline date of filing the certificate of candidacy was over.  Crowd waited for him at Commission on Election up to the last hour but he was no show! Instead, someone from his party (PDP laban) filed as presidential candidate in the last minute of the deadline! Sensing that Duterte has the highest possibility of winning, party-mates did not stop convincing him to run until finally he conceded and substituted their party candidate who withdrew the candidacy... (maybe as planned).  And the rest was history.

Controlling illegal drugs

During the campaign, Duterte promised to eliminate illegal drugs, stop graft and corruption, shifting to a federal form of government, and a possible charter amendment. The result of the election was a landslide victory for Duterte shocking the whole world that a local mayor won as President  with minimal expenses and without the backing and funding of powerful oligarchs!

On his few months in office, he organized the police and drug enforcement agencies resulting in the mass surrender of drug users and pushers which overcrowded jails and newly built drug rehabilitation centers. Some are being killed for violent resistance and many are killed by drug lords to avoid detections and cover-ups -arrested hired- killers admitted being paid by drug lords to kill drug pushers and attributed it to the wrongs of Duterte.

A senator, Leila de Lima. was jailed for letting the Bureau of Jail and Correction Center as illegal drug trading center and as a concert site of inmates serving  drugs and unrestricted supply of beer and alcoholics inside the jail... -she's invited and was videoed dancing with the enemy of the state- when she was Justice Secretary of former President Benigno Aquino III. A shabu (methamphetamine) factory was discovered near town of Aquino- a proof that the former president was in cahoots with illegal drugs.

Efficient collection of taxes

In his few months of administration he warned that those who repeatedly refused to pay their tax obligations will be charged in court.
Immediately, Lucio Tan's Philippines Air Lines paid PHP 7 billion; Rufino/Prietos, owner of Philippines Daily Inquirer and Mile Long Property paid PHP 3 Billion; owner of Mighty Corporation engaged in cigarettes manufacturing paid PHP 30 billion; and many other delinquent tax evaders.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue conducted investigations of unexplained wealth not only with their own personnel but throughout government employees particularly the personnel of the Bureau of Customs. Lately, a law on tax reform known as TRAIN was passed to support the many infrastructure projects lined up in his term.

Saving Marawi City from international terrorism

Duterte cut short his visit to Russia to attend personally the siege of Marawi city from ISIS led by Maute group. Prominent leader Isnilon Hapilon, recognized head of ISIS-Southeast Asia and Omarkhayam Maute, the group leader were killed in the battle of Marawi. Duterte successfully liberated Marawi in a record time and distracting the ISIS plan to regroup in the Philippines.
Today he is in the process of rebuilding Marawi and international donors are pouring in. Unlike Yolanda victims were donations got rotten and the foreign financial contributions were, up to this date, unaccounted by the previous administration.

Building more infrastructure projects through Build Build Build programs

President Duterte is now focus on building more infrastructure projects throughout the Philippines. Lined up were road and bridges, railways, subways, airports, and RORO (roll on roll off) projects connecting different islands of the archipelago.  As for starter, a ground breaking ceremony for the construction of Manila-Clark International Airport railway was undertaken which will shorten traveling time from two hours to 30 minutes. A massive bridge connecting the four island of Visayas (iloilo-Guimaras-Negros-Cebu Link Bridge), a $1 billion bridge, will be completed in Duterte's term.

Federal form of government

On federal form of government, Congress are  now preparing to discuss the manner on how to convene both houses in amending the constitution.
Senator Panfilo Lacson wants Congress to convene separately and come up with common recommendation to ensure  the relevance of demeaned Senate.  While in the lower house, Congressman Lito Atienza of Buhay Party-List is campaigning for a constitutional convention to eliminate term extension and political dynasties.  At least we are geared to a unicameral parliament which President Duterte has been campaigning for a shift to federalism.

With the sparkling achievement of Duterte and the excellent approval rating as president he has been garnering as shown by the latest survey of the Social Weather Station, a sparkling development of the Philippines is in the offing.