LEGACY. DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya (left) and Presidential Task Force on Media Security Executive Director Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco deliver their message during the Duterte Legacy Caravan in Cebu City on Wednesday (April 20, 2022). Malaya said President Rodrigo Duterte will leave a legacy of courage and compassion when the latter steps down from office on June 30. (Contributed photos)
CEBU CITY – The signature governance hallmark of the Duterte administration – “Tapang at Malasakit” (courage and compassion) – will go on and remain to be a guidepost in delivering services to the people until the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term on June 30, a ranking government official said on Wednesday.
Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said while Duterte is serving as the leader of the country, the national government will continue with its duty to educate the people about his legacy.
When he steps down two months from now, Malaya said Duterte will leave a legacy of courage in running against drug lords, drug peddlers, communist terrorist groups, and others who want to bring down the government, and the compassion shown through the establishment of 151 Malasakit Centers nationwide, helping typhoon victims and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps, giving the people free coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines, and doubling the salary of the police and military members.
“Hangga’t hindi siya bumaba sa puwesto, araw-araw meron serbisyo sa pamahalaan. Hanggang sa June 30, tuloy-tuloy ang Duterte Legacy Caravan (As long as he hasn't stepped down, there will be government service everyday. Until June 30, the Duterte Legacy Caravan will continue),” he said.
Malaya joined other national officials in the Duterte Legacy Caravan at the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Central Visayas Headquarters in this city, which was also attended by members of advocacy groups and force multipliers tapped by the police in the peace and order campaigns here.
He urged Cebuanos to take the message of "Tapang at Malasakit" into their homes, even as he wished that the next administration would continue the banner of change started by Duterte.
The official cited the significant drop in the country’s overall crime rate even in the remaining months of the current administration due to the police’s relentless effort to impose law and order and the campaign against drugs and communist terrorism.
In his speech during the event, Presidential Task Force on Media Security Executive Director, Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, said one of the biggest legacies that the next administration will inherit from Duterte is the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
He said the President’s Executive Order No. 70 synchronized efforts of the government instrumentalities and the private sectors to end the 50 years of deceit, lies, and atrocities committed by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) against the people, particularly those in the far-flung areas.
“What is good in the whole-of-nation approach championed by Duterte is that the police, military, the force multipliers, the LGU (local government units), the barangays, and the community are united in our quest to end the communist armed conflict,” he said. (PNA)
