By Genalyn Kabiling

The country’s firebrand leader had some moments of stumbles and setbacks but managed to stay on top on his third year in office.

As he prepares to deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, the President can trumpet about the country’s low inflation, healthcare improvements and reduced crime rate while keeping high public trust and approval ratings halfway through his six-year term.

His third year in office however has been marred by an imminent United Nations inquiry on the alleged abuses in the bloody war on drugs. The tough-talking President also continued to draw outrage over his alleged soft stance in asserting the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea in a dispute with China.

But for the Palace, the country is in “better and constantly improving state” under Duterte’s strong and decisive leadership. His political will has been on display to attain a safe and comfortable life for Filipinos despite the political noise, according to Panelo.

“The Philippines is in a better and constantly improving state because of the President’s hard work, sincerity and endless effort to provide a better and comfortable life for all Filipinos,” Panelo said in an interview with the Manila Bulletin.

“While the President listens and respects the opinion of his critics, he goes beyond the political noise and, with his strong political will, focuses only in fulfilling his promise to all Filipinos,” he said.

On the economic front, Panelo said the local economy grew an average of 6.5 percent during the first 11 quarters of the Duterte administration. The economic feat was attained despite global uncertainties, spike in world oil prices, and a brief episode of high inflation.

He said the inflation spike has been slayed after the rate slowed down to 2.7 percent last month.

The country’s unemployment also dropped to 5.2 percent in April 2019 after averaging 5.5 percent from 2016 to 2018. This is the lowest unemployment rate in 40 years, Panelo said.

The country is also one notch away from A rating after earning a higher credit rating from Standard and Poor’s agency. The agency raised the country’s long-term credit rating from BBB to BBB+ with stable outlook the highest rating the country has received.

On social services, Panelo said the President signed several laws and programs promoting ease and better access for Filipinos to services.

Among the laws are the 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law, National Integrated Cancer Control Act, Universal Health Care Act, Mandatory PhilHealth coverage for all persons with disability, Tulong Trabaho Act, and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Act.

“As a result, poverty incidence fell from 27.6 percent in the first half of 2015 to 21 percent in the first half of 2018, which has also been validated by independent self-rate poverty surveys with 38 percent a figure which is considered the lowest ever,” he said.

On peace and order, the government takes pride of the decline in crime volume in recent months.

“The Philippine National Police reported a decrease in the crime volume by 4.41 percent, that is, from January-April 2018 with 161,098 incidents to the same period this year with 153,990 incidents,” Panelo said.

“Filipinos feel more secure and safe under the administration of President,” he said, citing a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey that showed 66 percent of Filipino adults believe that the number of drug addicts in their area has decreased over the past year.

In the coming year, Panelo said the President’s priority remains providing a comfortable life for Filipinos. He said Duterte is hopeful that the next Congress would pass several priority bills, including the proposed 2020 national budget, to further propel the country’s growth and stability.

“We have experienced the impact of reenacted budget as a result of a budget impasse and we hope that this would not happen again,” Panelo said.

“The welfare of the Filipino people is our utmost priority and therefore we call on the members of the Congress to act immediately so that government services will not be hampered,” he added.

Another priority measure is the proposed revival of death penalty in the country.

“We have seen a decline on crime volume since 2016 but a passage of the death penalty bill will hopefully effect real change and ultimately decrease in pushing the passage of this bill since day one,” Panelo said.

“We hope that our allies in the Congress would consider this piece of legislation as it would provide a safer and more secure environment for all,” he added.

On the proposed shift to a federal form of government, Panelo said the President has left to Congress to decide on the measure.

Other administration measures endorsed by the President are the remaining comprehensive tax reform package and bill creating the department on disaster resilience.

“Seeing all the ills and perils of the country, being the President is a tough job,” he said.

“He may have said in different occasions that he regretted running for presidency but his heart remains with the Filipinos. With this in mind, he will continue doing his job and will finish his term by effecting real change that is felt by all Filipinos,” he said.