Victories and controversies as Duterte presidency enters homestretch in 2021 By VIRGIL LOPEZ and LLANESCA PANTI, GMA News
Published December 31, 2020 3:06pm Rodrigo Duterte rose to power in June 2016 on a campaign promise to make bold changes in the country, from eradicating illegal drugs and corruption, shifting to a federal form of government, to remodeling of Philippine foreign policy. Four years on, Duterte s presidency faced several challenges, both here and abroad, and scored some victories, all of which can play a crucial role in shaping his legacy after he leaves office in June 2022.
Policies, gains Duterte, the first Philippine president from Mindanao, supported measures to promote public welfare. He signed laws and issued executive measures such as free public college education, universal healthcare, free irrigation to farmers, free feeding program for undernourished school children, salary increases for soldiers, policemen, firemen and government workers, hi
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) From its humble beginnings as a United States Air Force base, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport eventually evolved into the country s main international gateway.
However, with tens of millions of travelers flying in and out on a yearly basis, congestion had plagued NAIA prior to the coronavirus pandemic as no alternatives were in place to help ease the airport s air traffic.
The government has since greenlit multi-billion peso upgrades of select airports across the country, and even the construction of a new one in Bulacan. Yet the rehabilitation of NAIA itself has faced numerous setbacks over the years, with negotiations between the government and various conglomerates invariably reaching a dead end.
Published December 15, 2020, 5:31 PM
Newly-installed Rep. Ducielle Cardema of the Duterte Youth Partylist has sought the revival of the anti-subversion law, the potent martial law legal weapon that then President Ferdinand Marcos against critics and political foes.
In filing House Bill 8231or the Anti-CPP-NPA-NDF Act of 2021, Cardema cited the support of defense and military officials in seeking to outlaw again the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army and the National Democratic Front.
Ironically, it was former President Fidel V. Ramos, the highest military official to become president of the country, who signed the law that repealed the anti-subversion law and gave the CPP its legal existence.
Published December 15, 2020, 3:15 PM
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will conduct a fleet review and wing flyby to showcase the military’s current roster of ships, choppers, and land vehicles including the newly purchased equipment under the revised modernization program in a ceremony to be held in Morong, Bataan on Wednesday.
Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana will spearhead the AFP’s fleet review, a traditional gathering of ships, which will be conducted in connection with the military’s 85th founding anniversary that carries the theme, “Pinag-isang Lakas na Maaasahan ng Pilipino.”
Published December 14, 2020, 7:12 PM
With 221 members voting in the affirmative, the House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading the bill declaring the coconut levy assets as a trust fund and providing for its management and utilization that will ensure benefits for coconut farmers and workers.
MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO
The six members of the Makabayan bloc voted against House Bill 8136 as they pointed out that the legislative measure will only further deny the farmers and coconut plantation workers access to the funds collected during the martial law years.
Speaker Lord Allan Velasco lauded his colleagues for the passage of the measure, saying that this will be a “fitting Christmas gift to more than three million coconut farmers who stand to benefit from the proposed coco levy trust fund.”