Palace: PRRD fulfilled ‘change is coming’ slogan

MANILA – Malacañang is certain that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has fulfilled his campaign slogan, “Change is coming,” during his six-year term in office.

Acting presidential spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, in a Palace press briefing, mentioned how the accomplishments of Duterte administration speak for itself.

“Kita naman natin sa Duterte Legacy report ng Presidential Communications Operations Office at ng lahat ng mga departamento (We can see it from the Duterte Legacy of the Presidential Communications Operations Office and in all departments),” he said.

Andanar noted how the administration boosted infrastructure expenditure under the “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) infrastructure initiative in order to stimulate economic activity and generate employment.

The BBB program execution increased infrastructure expenditures above 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

GDP, which is the total market value of goods and services produced by a country for a specified period, is used to measure output and economic activity.

“Ilang porsyento ang ginagastos ng ating pamahalaan of the GDP na napupunta sa Build, Build, Build (A huge percent of spending went to Build, Build, Build),” he added.

He highlighted the success of the administration’s anti-drug campaign, which resulted in the seizure of drugs worth over PHP75 billion, the surrender of over a million drug personalities, and the accreditation of more Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehab Centers throughout the country.

“Pagdating sa number of drug user surrenderees na nagpa-rehabilitate, the amount of hard drugs na nahuli ng ating (When it comes to the number of drug user surrenderees who are undergoing rehabilitation, the amount of hard drugs seized by our) Philippine National Police, ng ating (by our) Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency,” he added.

Andanar also cited efforts being conducted to reduce poverty incidence to 14 percent or lower by 2022, given the administration’s game-changing reforms and the Philippine economy growing 8.3 percent in the first quarter of 2022, surpassing the prepandemic GDP level.

Duterte stated in a speech on Monday that he did his best to deliver what he could for the country during his six-year term.

If he fell short of expectations, Duterte added, it was not because his administration was negligent but had limited time.