A man of action, a loving father, and a good and loyal friend.
This was how Malacañang described President Duterte’s leadership style and other personal qualities as he marks his 74th birth anniversary today.
“The President’s mindset has always been about making Filipino lives better – to provide a comfortable life for all. The President is a man of action,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said.
Duterte, nearing the halfway mark of his six-year term, has governed the nation with tremendous strength, compassion, and authenticity, according to Panelo.
The tough-talking former mayor of Davao City has made decisive policies that included a relentless drug war that drew widespread criticisms but still managed to enjoy popularity.
“The President’s leadership style has always been strong-willed and compassionate,” said Panelo, also chief presidential legal counsel.
He said the President’s recent stern resolve to address the water crisis that affected Metro Manila showed his utmost priority was the welfare of the public. “His leadership style is reflected on his decisive policies and swift action, which are for effecting real change,” he said.
Such leadership traits were in full display when Duterte temporarily banned the deployment of Filipino workers in Kuwait for their protection, eliminated the “tanim-bala” (bullet-planting) scam at the airport, led the liberation of Marawi City from the clutches of terrorists, and cleaning and rehabilitation of Boracay and other tourist destinations, Panelo pointed out.
In his first half of his six-year term, Panelo said Duterte also sought the return of the Balingaga bells from the United States, implemented the laws on tax reform, national mental health, national identification system, national feeding program for school children, and ease of doing business.
He likewise pursued the Bangsamoro organic law, and measures prohibiting labor contractualization, expanding maternity leave, and promoting universal health care in the country, Panelo added.
Duterte also made history by scoring the “biggest tax settlements” that included Philippine Airlines’s P6-billion payment and Mighty Corp.’s P40-billion settlement in 2017, Panelo pointed out.
As the boss in the Cabinet, Duterte is considered as a “hardworking” leader despite his age. “He inspires his Cabinet by setting a good example to them,” said Panelo. (Genalyn Kabiling)