Duterte says accomplishments as president already his ‘best effort’

Presodent Rodrigo Duterte. MALACAÑANG FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Whatever he achieved during his stint as the country’s chief executive was already his best effort.

Outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte said this Monday, even apologizing for the shortfalls of his administration.

“In a few days, I will be out. ‘Yung nagawa ko, para sa ‘kin, ‘yun na ‘yon, the best that my efforts can really achieve. Kung kulang pa ‘yun, pasensya na, hindi ko na talaga kaya,” Duterte said in his speech in the inauguration of the new head office building of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in Pasig City.

(For all my achievements, for me, that’s just it, the best that my efforts can really achieve. If it is still not enough, I’m sorry, I can no longer do it.)

Duterte explained that for programs he was not able to do, it was “not because of negligence” or his shortcomings but due to lack of time.

“The things that I failed to do most were not because of negligence or may mga shortcomings ako but talagang time – kasi six years would not be enough to finish all the projects,” he said.

Duterte once again thanked those who supported and helped him in his “journey” as president.

“Maraming salamat po sa inyo and your help in my journey in the six years na binigyan ninyo ako ng honor maging Presidente ng Pilipinas. Maraming, maraming salamat,” he said.

(I thank you all for your help in my journey in the six years you gave me to serve as your President. Thank you all.)

MMDA’s new head office building

Duterte led the inauguration of the MMDA’s new head office building in Pasig City and said the establishment would provide all personnel “the space they need to function more efficiently.”

Duterte lauded the MMDA and its people for “bravely and wholeheartedly” bringing “genuine service” to the Filipino people even though the COVID-19 pandemic made transport management, waste management, disaster prevention, and public safety in Metro Manila “even more challenging.”

“I expect that this building complex will encourage both officials and employees to continue working hard for a sustainable, resilient, dynamic, and most of all people-centered MMDA,” he said in his speech.

“I hope that the momentum that we have gained through this project and in our other previous projects will motivate other government offices and institutions to invest in similar undertakings. Whether in the public or private sector, I strongly urge you to invest in safer and more responsive infrastructure. I urge all of us to invest in our people and country,” Duterte added.

For his part, MMDA chairman Romando Artes said the new building is a manifestation of its commitment to strengthen the organization and provide better services to “clients and partners of Metro Manila.”

“We started with an idea, and now we stand in the actual building of our lifetime dream – a state-of-the-art government facility, catering to the needs of our employees as well as the clients and partners of Metro Manila. We now have a safe, structurally sound, sustainable, and productive headquarters we can call home,” he said.

The new building features facilities that would accommodate the different services and functions of the agency, such as a centralized data system, upgraded Metrobase Operations Center, and MMDA Corporate Auditorium.

The 20-story new building, with roof deck and helipad, will be certified by the Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE) with a one-star accreditation. BERDE is a tool to assess, measure, monitor, and certify the performance of green building projects.

MMDA employees are expected to start moving to the new MMDA head office building this year, the agency said.

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