By Genalyn Kabiling

Fighting corruption and illegal drugs and providing better social services will be among the priorities of President Duterte this New Year.

After the government made headway in poverty alleviation efforts and other fronts in the previous year, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President would continue to “work hard” to serve the public interest and provide a comfortable and prosperous life for Filipinos.

“Ridding the government of corruption, maintaining peace and order, intensifying the campaign against illegal drugs, maintaining the upward trajectory of the county’s economic growth and providing the basic social services such as education and health has always been the core of the President’s plans and priorities,” he said in an interview with the Manila Bulletin.

“As it stands, the Chief Executive will continue to work hard for the remainder of his term to uplift more Filipino families out of poverty and hunger, and provide a more comfortable and prosperous life for all,” he said.

He maintained that the President’s foremost priority is to serve the interest of the Filipino people.

This 2020, the government is determined to strive to implement several legislations on healthcare, cheaper power rates, cash subsidies, among others that are aimed to improve the plight of Filipinos.

“We see to it that the landmark pro-poor pieces of legislation signed during PRRD’s (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) watch would be implemented,” Panelo said.

“These include the 105-day maternity leave, universal health care, mandatory PhilHealth coverage for persons with disability, Tulong Trabaho Act, Magna Carta for the Poor, Safe Spaces Act, student fare discount, institutionalization of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino, Sagip Saka Act, Murang Kuryente Act, among others,” he said.

Earlier, Malacañang trumpeted the administration’s accomplishments in the past year, including poverty reduction, economic growth, and lower crime rate.

In citing the administration’s gains, Panelo said the year 2019 has been an “exemplary year” for the Philippines.

The country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) surged to 6.2 percent in the third quarter of 2019, faster than the 5.6 percent in the first quarter and 5.5 percent in the second quarter.

Poverty incidence dropped to 16.6 percent in 2018 from 23.3 percent in 2015 largely.

“PRRD has made the Philippines one of the strongest economies and growth leaders in the region by changing its business climate that prompted the influx of foreign investments,” Panelo said in the administration’s 2019 report.

The anti-drug campaign has led to the arrest and surrender of thousands of drug offenders. Panelo said the index crime has “critically sunk” since the President took office.

“In July 2019, for example, the Department of the Interior and Local Government reported an 11% decrease in crime volume,” he said.

In the anti-corruption drive, Panelo said there have been no sacred cows in the administration.

He said several military and high officials have been fired by the President for alleged corruption or incompetence.

“In 2019, he has directed the abolition of the Road Board and the disestablishment of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission as part of this Administration’s anti-corruption drive and streamlining of government functions,” he said.