CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar cited the significant development efforts that will happen under the second half of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s administration.
During his recent visit in Pampanga, Andanar said there are three things that will form part of the Duterte legacy in the next three years.
Specifically, the PCOO chief cited poverty alleviation and the government’s vision for the Philippines to achieve upper middle class status by 2022.
“Duterte’s promise is to bring down the poverty rate from 21 percent to 14 percent by the end of his term. So far, based on the assessment of the economic and business cluster as well as rating agencies that we have talked with, they are optimistic that Philippines will achieve upper middle class status by 2022,” the secretary said.
He also mentioned about the Build Build Build infrastructure program which complements poverty reduction by generating jobs.
Under the Duterte administration, Andanar said the country will have an underground train system in Metro Manila, as well as train station from Tutuban to Clark.
“At least in our lifetime, we will be able to experience the comfort of travelling from Pampanga to Manila using these new modes of transport. Also, residents of Central and Northern Luzon will not have to travel to Ninoy Aquino International Airport once the expansion of the Clark International Airport is fully completed,” the PCOO chief said.
Lastly, he underscored the importance of peace and order in the development process.
“One of the President’s aim is to end the communist insurgency in the country. You cannot have a progressive nation that is always in strife, always at war, especially in the countryside. That is why the President has appointed a Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS),” Andanar said.
For Central Luzon, the designated CORDS is Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Carlito G. Galvez Jr.
In his first three years of office, President Duterte has already initiated and implemented various reforms in the government.
These include free tuition for students in state and local colleges and universities; free irrigation for farmers with at least four hectares of land; additional PhilHealth and Social Security System benefits; no deposit bill in hospitals; and the Bangsamoro Organic Law, among others.