President Rodrigo Duterte was an accomplished Mayor of Davao, a province in the Southern island of Mindanao for 30 years. During his term, Davao was considered as one of the safest places in the country to live in. The crime rate is very low. He was the chair of the ruling PDP–Laban party before becoming the President of the Republic of the Philippines.
Duterte's accomplishments as President
Duterte’s first three years as the head of the country proved to be a success as he was able to tackle the major issue the country is facing which is drugs.
He has established an anti-drug campaign in which he urges the police officials and concerned citizens of the Philippines to help him combat this major problem in the country. His campaign also helps drug users into a rehabilitation program.
According to Salvador Panelo, the president's spokesperson and Chief Legal Counselor, the crime rate in the country has lowered. Philippine National Police (PNP) reported that at least nine percent of all the crimes dropped in the country.
Duterte also managed to make an independent foreign policy. It became possible when he removed the Philippines from subservience to western policies. This decision improved the relationship with China, Russia, and other Southeast Asian countries.
The future of the Philippines
The president has made a lot of changes in both domestic and international policies. However, he only has three more years to serve his term. According to the Chief Executive, the president will share his plans for the future of the Philippines when he speaks his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA).
According to the Cabinet Report sa Teleradyo that was conducted on Saturday with Communications Assistant Secretary 'Kris Ablan' and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, they both have discussed the possible topics for Duterte's SONA that will be held on Monday, July 22.
Issues addressed in SONA
It is said that Duterte will be discussing three important issues that are affecting the country in his speech: poverty alleviation, infrastructure development and efforts to end communist insurgency.
According to a survey that was conducted on June 2019 by the Pulse Asia Research, the Filipino people have certain issues that they wanted to be addressed such as, higher wages, lower prices of goods and Philippine sovereignty in his speech.
During his years as the President of the Philippines, Duterte has accomplished so much and helped the country become a safer place to live in for the Filipino citizens. During his SONA's speech, he will continue to tackle and address the concerns of the Filipino citizens and continue his mission to make the Philippines a better place to live for its citizens
