THE Palace on Wednesday played up 16 milestones in President Rodrigo Duterte’s first 50 days in office, bucking the practice of looking back on the first 100 days in office.
“We are confident that even at an early stage, we have effected change in our government while calling everyone to be our partner for change,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a statement.
“Change is happening everyday. It feels like everyday is a new day for a new Philippines. That is why we chose to tag it as the 50 First Days,” he said.
Among the achievements cited were:
1. The signing of an executive order on the freedom of information;
2. The creation of a one-stop shop government center at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) where citizens can process all their needed documents from the government;
3. A vow to end the practice of contractualization;
4. Establishment of a Malacañang of the South in Panacanan, Davao City in efforts to shift priority to Mindanao.
5. The resumption of the peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and the implementation of its signed agreements with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front;
6. A revitalized economy, particularly the stability of the stock market since the President took office;
7. A P2.4-billion loan from the Japanese government to revive and extend the operations of the Philippine National Railways from Tutuban to Malolos in Bulacan;
8. Reorganization of 12 line agencies under the helm of Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco to respond to the administration’s anti-poverty initiatives, under the President’s first executive order;
9. Making the government “inclusive” with the appointment of three leftists in the Cabinet–Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo and the National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary Liza Maza;
10. A proposed administrative order creating a Presidential Task Force on Media Killings;
11. Hosting of the Miss Universe pageant next year;
12. Increased allowance and benefits for athletes competing in the Rio Olympics;
13. Reshuffling and takeover of the Special Action Force to curb the illegal drug trade inside the national penitentiary;
14. Opening of the gates of the Department of Agrarian Reform to farmers;
15. A specialized hotline for emergencies (999) and anti-graft and red tape in government (8888);
16. The name-and-shame campaign on politicians, and members of the uniformed personnel involved in the illegal drug trade.
A documentary on Duterte’s day-to-day activities since Day 1 until his 50th day will be aired over state-run PTV4.
At a public forum, however, Andanar highlighted different achievements that were not on the list released by his office.
“For the first 50 days report, his No. 1 achievement is the surrender of drug pushers and drug users in the PNP [Philippine National Police] and the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines], as well as civilians. There are about 600,000 who surrendered,” Andanar said at the “Kapihan sa Manila Bay, at Café Adriatico” in Manila.
“No. 2 is the lowering of the crime rate,” he said.
At the same time, Andanar repeated the Palace line that the spate of summary executions of drug suspects were done by criminals, not the police.
Andanar also cited as an achievement the closure of mining companies that did not comply with environmental safety standards—another item that was not on the PCO list.