DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Dec. 13 (PIA) -- The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) continues to promote the landmark accomplishments of the government under the Duterte Administration to NegOrenses as it rolls out the five-day Duterte Legacy Caravan in the province starting Dec. 13.

The Duterte Legacy Caravan in Negros Oriental kicked off with two separate events held in Dumaguete City and its neighboring town of Valencia in the morning and in the afternoon, respectively.

PCOO Assistant Secretary for Global Media Affairs JV Arcena led other local officials in holding the caravan.

His presentation covered the major accomplishments of the government in infrastructure and policy development.

In terms of infrastructure, around 1,439 kilometers of roads, 4,365 bridge projects, 326 flood mitigation projects, and 7,656 classrooms have been constructed in Central Visayas under the government’s flagship infrastructure program dubbed “Build, Build, Build.”

Some notable projects in the province include the rehabilitation of the Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport, construction of new Port Operations Building inside Dumaguete Seaport, the slope protection along Himampangon Road, Candoni-Gatuslao-Basay “Negros Connector” Road, Lalaan Bridge, Panambalon Bridge, Alman Bridge, Buswang Bridge, Metro-Dumaguete By-pass and diversion road, and Bais By-pass and diversion road.

“Wala gyud maulahi ang Negros Oriental sa kataas sa listahan na gibuhusan ug proyekto sa Duterte Legacy (Negros Oriental did not come last in the priority list based on number of projects that were implemented here under the Duterte Legacy),” Arcena said.

In terms of policies, he highlighted some measures that were promoted by the government over the last five years.

These include the TRAIN Law which resulted to 99% of the country’s taxpayers to have higher take home pay, the Free Tertiary Education Act which benefitted 1.6 million college students enrolled in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), the Universal Health Care (UHC) which granted health insurance to many Filipinos under the state-run PhilHealth, and the Free Irrigation Service Law which benefitted almost one million farmers across the country.

The PCOO official emphasized that all programs and projects that were implemented under the current administration are anchored on Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s promise to provide a comfortable life for Filipinos.

“Iyang giduol ang gobyerno sa atong katawhan. Giduol kung unsa nag serbisyo ng gobyerno na may Tapang ug Malasakit sa ato mga grassroot level. Dili na mo maglisod og pangayo og tabang kay ang gobyerno mismo nato sa ilayon ni Presidente Duterte, ang gobyerno natin ang bumababa sa laylayan (The President has brought government services closer to the people. He brought a kind of government service, which is anchored on courage and compassion, closer to the grassroots. Right now, it’s not difficult for our people to avail of assistance because the government itself is going down to the grassroots),” Arcena said.

Aside from the PCOO, other government agencies like the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Negros Oriental 2nd Engineering District, and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) participated in the event.

Meanwhile, the local chief executives of Dumaguete City and Valencia expressed their gratitude and support to the current administration for implementing programs and projects that benefitted their constituents.

“We appreciate the participating agencies of government which are all here to give substance or credence to many achievements and progress of Duterte administration. I can name a few na naa (which have a) high impact in Dumaguete. First is sa labor. Dumaguete is so fortunate because we are a beneficiary of a P2- million (livelihood) package gikan sa (from) DOLE,” Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo said.

“Magpasalamat pod ko dako ka niya, sa akong administrasyon, kay daghan kaayo tang napo-po sa atong lungsod (In behalf of my administration, I would like to thank the President. Our town was able to avail of different programs),” said Valencia Mayor Edgar Teves.

Aside from Dumaguete City and Valencia, the PCOO team will also visit Dauin and Zamboanguita on Dec. 14, Siaton and Bayawan City on Dec. 15, Bais City and Manjuyod on Dec. 16, and Pamplona on Dec. 17. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)