About 1,500 individuals from various advocacy support groups and force multipliers benefitted from the services provided by national government agencies during the Duterte Legacy: Barangayanihan Caravan held at Camp Olivas.
Co-organized by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Philippine National Police (PNP), it aims to inform the public on the landmark programs of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte through convergence in the distribution of assistance to the Filipino people.
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya underscored that apart from the programs, the Duterte Legacy is two things: tapang at malasakit [courage and concern].
“Duterte Legacy is the courage to collide with the drug lords, with the drug addicts, and to fight criminality. Because of the bravery of our President, we are here now with the lowest crime rate in the history of our country,” he said.
He added that the administration’s concern and love for the people is displayed in the billions worth of aid and assistance provided to the public amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, Malaya shared that the caravan is geared towards the vision of the Duterte administration of continuously bringing government services closer to the people until the end of the President’s term.
“Our call is that these changes and accomplishments should not stop on June 30, and should be continued up to the next administration. We should make sure that all good projects and programs are to be continuously implemented, and change should be continuous until the coming administration,” he said.
He lauded the PNP’s advocacy support groups and force multipliers in their assistance in the efforts of intensifying the campaign against the country’s communist insurgency, and in bringing about change up to the far-flung areas of the country.
Given this, PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia highlighted that the Executive Order No. 70 or the whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict (ELCAC), and the National Task Force ELCAC founded by the Duterte Presidency should be continued until the next administration for the achievement of long-lasting peace.
“When there is peace and order, there will be development and progress. This will in turn attract more investors, create more jobs, and promote tourism. This will improve the quality of lives of the Filipinos, and our children will go to school without the worry of them being recruited by the Communist Terrorist Groups,” he stated.
The police reiterated the call to renounce the belief of the Communist Party of the Philippines- New People’s Army- National Democratic Front which for about 53 years have inflicted the lives of the Filipinos, for the improvement of the quality of living in the cities and in the countryside.
The agencies which participated in the caravan are National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, National Economic Development Authority, National Commission of Indigenous People, Office of the Civil Defense, Department of Education, Mines and Geoscience Bureau, Philippine Statistics Authority, and 7th Infantry Division, Philippine Army.
Different Central Luzon police Units also provided their basic services including the Regional Police Community Affairs and Development Division and Pampanga Police Provincial Office which facilitated the “Talipapa Project” where indigenous peoples were able to sell their products.