President Duterte recalls his first Sona, when he pledged to ensure comfort for Filipinos. Screenshot from RTVM
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte admitted that the past five years of his presidency have been “truly challenging and humbling.”
“I bore no illusions that steering a nation towards a comfortable life for every Filipino would be easy. Indeed the past five years have truly been challenging and humbling,” Duterte said in his last State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday.
He looked back on his first Sona, saying he committed to ensuring comfortable lives for Filipinos “anchored on a people-centered approach to development and governance.”
“If I remember correctly, [in] my administration, I said we’ll implement a human approach to development governance in people’s welfare in the areas of health, free education, adequate food and housing, environmental preservation and respect for culture,” he added.