DAET, Camarines Norte (PIA) --  President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's legacy was  cited by Presidential Communications and Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar  in a radio interview here, Friday, Aug. 20.

In an interview over DWEN-FM Cool Radio of Ricky Pera, Sec. Andanar stressed the near completion of the Bicol International Airport as one of PRRD's legacies in infrastructure development aside from more than 29,000 km roads constructed, widened and strengthened under Build, Build, Build program of the national government.

On education, Sec. Andanar said that over 1.6 million students benefited the free tertiary schooling while more than 150,000 classrooms have been built and constructed.

More than 109 million Filipinos  benefited from the Universal Health Care Law while 2 million patients have been provided with free medical health care under the Malasakit Centers nationwide.

Free irrigation fee was provided to more than 1 M farmers across the country while 229,000 hectares of land were distributed to agriculture beneficiaries under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law.

On peace and order, a 64% decreased in crime volume was noted while more than 22,000  barangays were cleared against illegal use of drugs with  P59.93 B worth of drugs and paraphernalia were compiscated during anti-illegal drugs campaign of the government. Also 3,736 children were rescued from the treat of illegal drugs.

The Philippines ranked 95th in ease of doing business and 25th best place to live and work, he said.

Andanar also mentioned that driver's license renewal was extended to 5 years while passport to 10 years.

During PRRD's term, poverty rate went down from 24% to 16%-14% before the lockdown due to COVID-19.

On fight against COVID-19, the PRRD administration built 653 facilities.  Andanar urged and reminded the public to follow the health protocols to fight against the pandemic while the government is pursuing its vaccination program.

He also cited the role of media, especially through partnership with the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcasters sa Pilipinas (KBP), in working hand-in-hand with the government’s communication agency,  among other communication platforms. The media he said, is the government's partner  to disseminate  the government's programs to the people  and  address the impacts and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic for more than a year now. (RBM/PIA5/Camarines Norte)