Fighting corruption and illegal drugs and providing better social services will be among the priorities of President Duterte this New Year.
After the government made headway in poverty alleviation efforts and other fronts in the previous year, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President would continue to “work hard” to serve the public interest and provide a comfortable and prosperous life for Filipinos.
“Ridding the government of corruption, maintaining peace and order, intensifying the campaign against illegal drugs, maintaining the upward trajectory of the county’s economic growth, and providing the basic social services such as education and health has always been the core of the President’s plans and priorities,” he said.
“As it stands, the Chief Executive will continue to work hard in the remainder of his term to uplift more Filipino families out of poverty and hunger, and provide a more comfortable and prosperous life for all,” he said.
He maintained that the President’s foremost priority is to serve the interests of the Filipino people.
This 2020, the government is determined to strive to implement several legislations on healthcare, cheaper power rates, and cash subsidies, among others, that are aimed to improve the plight of Filipinos.
“We see to it that the landmark pro-poor pieces of legislation signed during PRRD’s (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) watch would be implemented,” Panelo said.
“These include the 105-day maternity leave, Universal Health Care, mandatory PhilHealth coverage for persons with disability, Tulong Trabaho Act, Magna Carta for the Poor, Safe Spaces Act, student fare discount, institutionalization of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino, Sagip Saka Act, and Murang Kuryente Act, among others,” he said.
Malacañang had earlier trumpeted the administration’s accomplishments in the past year, including poverty reduction, economic growth, and lower crime rate.
In citing the administration’s gains, Panelo said the year 2019 has been an “exemplary year” for the Philippines.
The country’s Gross Domestic Product surged to 6.2 percent in the third quarter of 2019, faster than the 5.6 percent in the first quarter and 5.5 percent in the second quarter that year. (Genalyn Kabiling)
