MAGNIFICO

DUTERTE
The unpopular
creator of heaven
and hell

Matt Dylan S. Geli

The State of the Nation Address as mandated by Section 3 of the

Article VII or The Executive Department of the 1987 Constitution of

the Republic of the Philippines must be executed in the first session

of the Congress by a sole public officer – the President. It is worthy

to note in this instance that there are three essential elements that

constitute this government function. First, the constitution is very

clear and concise of defining merely as an ‘address.’ It is only by

virtues of tradition as time passes by that it became an address of

the nation’s state. Second, this government function is directed to a

specific and certain assembly – the Congress, which is composed of

the Upper House (Senate) and the Lower House (House of

Representatives). This event is crucial since this will propel the

enactment of resolutions that declare the constitutionality of the

Congress’ powers or operations, inform the President of the

readiness of the two houses, provide the President the chance to

perform the address, and promulgate the legislative calendar for

the year.

As a citizen, I would say that I am a staunch critic of the way the

Duterte administration have been executing its constitutional

duties for the past three years. My critic personality, however, must

not hinder me from further understanding and appreciating the

overall excellent contributions of his administration which I am

certain made a difference in the life of many Filipinos and improved

the nation to where it is prior to this administration. Here are the

three accomplishments.

Spent with highest budget allocation for infrastructure summing

up to 7.3% of the country’s gross domestic product, President

Duterte’s goal has in fact created 9, 845 kms of road, 2,709 bridges,

4,536 flood control projects, 82 evacuation centers, and 71,803

classrooms. This stellar achievement of the Department of Public

Works and Highways was made possible due to a contractionary

fiscal policy made by the government through a popular program.

Prevailing in front of us is the Tax Reform for Acceleration and

Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. The TRAIN aims to make the Philippine Tax

System simpler, fairer, and more efficient to promote investments,

create jobs, and reduce poverty. Along with this objective, the law

also aims to raise revenues that will fund the President’s Build,

Build, Build project that will sustain high and inclusive growth of

the country; and finance investments in our people through

enhanced education, health, and social services.

Tainted with decades of trying to resolve the Moro issues, we now

have a President who was able to bridge the gap of grievances of the

Muslim people from Mindanao. The Bangsamoro Organic Law

which is officially named as the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (OLBARMM), is the end

event of decades-long peace negotiations between the rebel groups

in Mindanao and the government. This establishes a Muslim region

where there is parliamentary-democratic type of government,

fiscal autonomy, defined territory via plebiscite, defense and

security, and bangsamoro identity.

The third accomplishment would be the Universal Healthcare Law.

With this act, all citizens are by default enlisted into the newly-

created National Health Insurance Program (NHIP). Also according

to this law, All Filipinos will be granted “immediate eligibility” and

access to the full spectrum of health care which includes

preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care.

This can be expected for medical, dental, mental, and emergency

health services. Filipinos will also be enrolled with a primary health

care provider of their choice. The primary care provider is the

health worker they can go and seek treatment from for health

concerns. They will also serve as the person in charge of referring

and coordinating with other health centers if patients need further

treatment.

The most important accomplishment of the government so far I

believe is the “Build, Build, Build” program. Banking from true

figures, it is a testament of the President’s political will over

building his legacy which may contribute to the solving of the

notorious traffic that bombards the metro. This is a concrete

representation of the President’s priority in connecting major

passageways all across the nation (roads), building structures

conducive for learning (learning), and strengthening the disaster

risk reduction (dams).

 REFERENCES:

Lamentillo, A. (n.d.). Duterte's 'Build Build Build' three years after. Retrieved

from https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/07/21/dutertes-build-build-build-

three-years-after/

Marcelo, V. (n.d.). The Bangsamoro Organic Law: Everything you need to

know. Retrieved from

https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/07/24/bangsamoro-organic-law-

primer-everything-you-need-to-know-bbl.html

Ranada, P., & Pagdanganan, M. (n.d.). Quick point-by-point summary of

Duterte's SONA 2019. Retrieved from

https://www.rappler.com/nation/236120-summary-duterte-sona-2019

The State of the Nation Address: Traditions and History: GOVPH. (n.d.).

Retrieved from https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/the-state-of-the-

nation-address-traditions-and-history/

Tomacruz, S. (n.d.). EXPLAINER: What Filipinos can expect from the Universal

Health Care Law. Retrieved from

https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/226810-explanation-what-

filipinos-can-expect-universal-health-care-law