CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) -- Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar highlighted the legacy accomplishments of the Duterte administration in various areas of public service. 
 
In a radio interview, Andanar said the Duterte legacy was built on Tapang and Malasakit or a people-centered approach in governance which has been key in achieving true and real change for the betterment of the nation. 
 
“Under the Duterte administration, the Philippines saw its golden age of infrastructure. With the government’s flagship program which is the Build Build Build, a total of 29,000 kilometers of highways and roads; as well as 5,900 bridges were constructed. There are also 451 seaports and 214 airports that were built, including international airports in Bicol and Panglao, Bohol,” he said.
 
The Build Build Build program, he added, was also able to generate 6.5 million jobs from 2016 to 2020, which contributed to the Philippine economy.
 
Consequently, he added that the Duterte administration was able to lower the poverty rating before the pandemic from 24 percent to 14 percent, and obtained a BBB+ credit rating for the Philippines, which makes it easier for the government to loan money with smaller interest rates compared previously from international financing institutions. 
 
In terms of social service delivery, about two million indigent Filipinos nationwide availed free medicines and medical services from the Malasakit Centers.
 
“It is also important that the next administration pursues the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law in order to ensure that all Filipinos, whether rich or poor, are covered by the UHC insurance,” Andanar said. 
 
To date, about 1.6 million college students benefitted from the Free Tuition Act; while classrooms were built for the elementary and high school learners. 
 
Andanar also reported that 229,000 hectares of land were given to poor farmers through the Department of Agrarian Reform; while 937,000 farmers who own less than 10 hectares of land also benefitted from the government’s free irrigation program.
 
Under good governance, the PCOO chief said the Philippines ranked 95th worldwide in terms of the Ease of Doing Business, adding that the passage of the Freedom of Information Law and the establishment of the Anti-Red Tape Act office make the government more empowered and transparent.
 
In terms of peace and order, Andanar mentioned the Bangsamoro Organic Law which is crucial in sustaining peace and progress in Mindanao. 
 
“The establishment of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission resulted in a 64% decline in crime rate, conduct of 203,000 anti-drug operations, and seizure of P59 billion worth of illegal drugs. The government has also been continuously rescuing the youth from drug syndicates,” he said. 
 
He also stressed that under the current administration, the Philippines was delisted as one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists with the establishment of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security. 
 
“The government, through the PCOO, is also lobbying for the enactment of the Media Workers Welfare Bill.  At present, a Mindanao Media Hub was established, but the Department of Budget and Management has greenlighted the establishment of a similar facility in the Visayas region,” he said.
 
Andanar also shared that the government is eyeing to put up a government communications academy, which will be the first-ever communications institution that will teach information dissemination from the barangay to the national government. (CLJD/MJSC-PIA 3)