President Rodrigo Duterte during his final State-of-the-Nation Address on July 26, 2021. (PNA File Photo)
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Local government executives, uniformed personnel, and residents of the province of Pangasinan have lauded President Rodrigo Duterte for his administration’s programs and projects in the past five years following his State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Governor Amado Espino III commended the “whole-of-nation” approach of Duterte.
“President Duterte’s SONA resonated (with) his purest intentions, and care for the people. Truly, the accomplishments of his administration through his whole-of-nation approach reflects adherence to whatever is best that is doable, practicable, and beneficial to the greatest number of people, especially in these most uncertain and challenging times,” Espino said.
He added Duterte’s lasting legacy is his strong stance against corruption, criminality, and illegal drugs, and his administration’s achievements and programs in infrastructure, health, agriculture, and environment, as well as strong support to the local government units (LGUs), among others.
In a separate statement, Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil highlighted the infrastructure accomplishments of the Duterte administration, citing among them the transformational initiatives that will surely benefit the people in his town.
“We are among the beneficiaries of the infrastructure projects. In fact, quite recently, Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade visited our town to inspect the Pangasinan Port Cluster Development Project -two social tourism port projects in our barangays Pangapisan and Capandanan,” he said.
Bataoil, who is also the president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines Pangasinan chapter, said the President’s last SONA was “modest but impactful” as he reaffirmed the LGUs continued commitment to the President’s programs of good governance.
Meanwhile, uniformed and non-uniformed personnel in Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) thanked Duterte for the changes made in the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“The salary increase for the Philippine National Police has a big help to our family’s needs. It boosted our morale. Aside from that, the delivery of our supplies and equipment especially on mobility and firepower has been faster in the President’s administration,” PPPO information officer, Maj. Arturo Melchor Jr., said in a separate interview.
Joel Austria, a driver, said Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” project made inbound and outbound travel between Pangasinan and the National Capital Region including other areas of Luzon much faster.
Reynaldo Bulatao, a former illegal drug user from Barangay Banaoang in Malasiqui town, lauded the anti-illegal drug campaign of Duterte.
“Andoon kasi yong programa ng gobyerno natin under President Duterte, doon ko naramdaman na kapag nasa puso ang pagbabago, gaganda ang buhay mo. (There is this program of the government under the administration of President Duterte where I felt that if the change is in your heart, then your life will be better),” he said.
Bulatao said the Malasiqui Police, the LGU of Malasiqui, including the barangays officials, national government agencies, and other non-government organizations, have organized a community-based rehabilitation for the drug surrenderers to which he decided to enlist.
“Maganda ang epekto sa akin ng ‘tokhang’ kasi bumalik sa akin ang pamilya ko. Bumalik ang tiwala nila sa akin. (Tokhang has a good effect on me because my family returned to me. I also regained their trust),” he said.
Bulatao is currently employed as a teacher-trainer in a vocational school and an active member of a Christian church. (PNA)
