Filipinos experienced ‘real change’ under Duterte administration — Palace

FILE President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang. ROBINSON NIÑAL/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos have experienced “real change” under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Wednesday.

In a radio interview, Nograles, also the acting presidential spokesperson, was asked what legacy Duterte would be leaving Filipinos once he stepped out of Malacañang.

“Napakarami actually, pero siguro ‘di ba simula’t sapul nung campaign pa lamang niya pagka-pangulo, ang lagi niyang sinasabi, ‘tunay na pagbabago,’ which naramdaman po talaga ng ating mga kababayan ang tunay na pagbabago ng kanilang buhay at ‘yung tapang at malasakit ng pinakita ni Pangulong Duterte all throughout his presidency,” he responded on the Radyo Pilipinas’ Tutok Erwin Tulfo.

(A lot actually but maybe from the start of the president’s campaign, he always vowed for real change which Filipinos felt in their lives as well as the courage and care that President Duterte showed all throughout his presidency.)

The Palace official said that the change could be seen, from the free irrigation, free higher and technical education, anti-drug and anti-insurgency programs, universal healthcare, to COVID-19 response.

Nograles also shared that the Duterte administration is aiming to fully immunize 90 million individuals against COVID-19 before the leadership would be turned over to the new president.

“Ang mamanahin ng susunod na administrasyon ay mas marami siguro—ang 90 million na mga Filipinos ang target natin na fully vaccinated. So, mas magkakaroon tayo ng mas magandang laban against COVID-19,” he said.

(The next administration will inherit 90 million Filipinos who we target to be fully vaccinated. So, we will have a better fight against COVID-19.)

“If not, by the end of the administration, baka halos, we hope halos wala na rin itong COVID at nabalik na po tayo sa new normal,” continued Nograles.

(If not, by the end of the administration, we hope that COVID will almost be gone and we will return to the new normal.)

Duterte earlier said that he is already packing to leave Malacañang as early as his term ends on June 30. He is the 16th president of the country whose term started on June 30, 2016.

EDV