December 15, 2016 – News Releases

 
15 December 2016
From Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on PRRD’s inclusion in Forbes’ List of Most Powerful People 
President Rodrigo Duterte was a reluctant presidential candidate who won the May 2016 elections by a landslide.

As President, he has used the immense powers vested in him by the Constitution with utmost responsibility to promote the well-being of the people.

This brings to mind what Abraham Lincoln once said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity; but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”

The President launched an unprecedented anti-drug war that saw the surrender of more than 800,000 drug addicts and charted a new course in international relations with his pursuit of an independent foreign policy which means moving strongly and swiftly towards regional economic rebalancing for closer integration in Asia.

The Philippines is forging closer ties with Asean, China, Japan and South Korea. As the President walked the extra mile for peace, the Chief Executive made the country’s economic growth the fastest among emerging Asian economies and lowered unemployment to its lowest level in more than a decade.

Much has been done in the first six months and much more will be done in the succeeding months and years. After all, the President’s heart is in the right place, and he has only the interests of the Filipino people and the nation in his mind first and foremost.
From Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on the 4th quarter 2016 SWS survey
Surveys are snapshots of our people’s sentiments at any given time.

We are thus grateful to the Filipino people for giving the President two consecutive ‘very good’ net satisfaction ratings.

The continuous strong support for the President and his administration will serve as an inspiration for him to redouble his energy to be true to his oath of office and fulfill his promise of getting rid of drugs, crime and corruption in our society.

The President knows very well that the many problems faced by the nation, including grinding poverty, inadequate social services, persistent armed rebellion and terrorism, cannot be solved overnight.

But he is doing his best to address all these, and hopes that the Filipino people would support him all the way as unity and firm resolve are what we need to move forward as a nation.

On the President’s colorful language, we ask for our people’s understanding as these utterances are not personal attacks directed at particular persons but mere expressions of disgust and impatience over the many unresolved and unaddressed issues that remain pervasive to this day.
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on SWS Survey on Democracy
The Third Quarter 2016 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing that 86% of Filipinos are satisfied with how democracy works is a testament to the appreciation of freedom-loving Filipinos on our democratic way of life.

Towards this end, the Duterte administration is strengthening democracy as part of its social contract to the governed.

One, the Administration respects the separation of powers such as the non-interference in the rulings of the Supreme Court and the Senate investigations, such as the probe on extrajudicial killings, and recognition of the independence of constitutional bodies such as the Commission on Human Rights.

Second, the President believes in good governance with special attention on public interest, the efficient delivery of government services, and zero tolerance to corruption.

Third, the President gives importance to the freedom of opinion and allows dissent and protest actions as long as public convenience is not sacrificed.