Sangil: Duterte's 3 years and counting

LIKE millions of Filipinos, I am a big fan of President Rodrigo Duterte.

I can't say that now with conviction that I still am. Looking back I was one those fierce campaigners together with then Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and his chief of staff Alexander Caugiran.

We covered every square inch of the territory of the 33 barangays shouting at the top of our lungs making a chorus of repeating his name while punching the air with our clenched fists, "Duterte! Duterte! Duterte!"

On the background was the Duterte song of Freddie Aguilar. We pinned our hopes on him that he can discipline law enforcers and put order in the streets.

I believed all what the mayor from Davao City said that he will end the drug problem in six months.

How could I be so naive. How could some Filipinos be naive. He promised he will end corruption in government, etc.

It's a big letdown. Anyway I am still keeping my fingers crossed that somehow he will end his term successful in behalf of us.

Case in point, regarding the lack of political will. You still remember of course when President Duterte declared that those old jeepneys which are still on the road will be phased out early this year. What happened?

He even threatened that those who will defy his order will be arrested. You can't deny that Mr. President. The public is aware of it. Now it seems everything is quiet on this issue.

I recall I even posed a query in my Facebook wall and asked my 5,000 FB friends if they do agree on the jeepney phaseout. Only one said No.

There were varied reasons from my friends. One friend expressed an apprehension that the amount of the E-jeep which may cost anywhere from P1.3 to P1.5 million is not affordable to the common jeepney drivers.

And that the P20,000 payable in 5 years with 6 percent interest rates per annum will burden the jeepney driver.

There were varied opinions from my friends at Monday Club, Wednesday Club, and tonggits fellows in Villa Angela Tennis Club. But all are in accord that these jeepneys plying the highways and backstreets should be replaced.

The Department of Transport under Secretary Art Tugade utilized both social and mainstream media on that latest move of government.

He explained and clarified government subsidy. That the E-Jeepney will carry 22 passengers and that it has less fuel consumption and less maintenance during the five year period.

The increase in earnings will be enough for the monthly amortization, etc. It was indeed a good move.

For once, all those surplus machines installed on those Eisenhower and MacArthur type jeeps used during a World War 2nd left by American Gis should have been off the street in the seventies and eighties. But they are still here defiantly belching smoke.

In this more than three years, there are some good and bad in Duterte's governance.

If he has done good, that's his mandate when he was elected by the 16 million of us. That's expected of him because he made the promises when he was gunning for the presidency.

If he has done bad, he should be criticized. Not even the smirk and embellishments from Salvador Panelo, the palace spokesman can erase what is the truth.

What are these? The monstrous drug problem grew even more as it started with P6.5 billion passing with ease at the Bureau of Customs. There were more that followed.

Corruption wasn't even minimized. Look there are now more 22 deputy speakers in the House of Representatives. Their budgets and porks are considered lotto jackpots.

Where is the president's persuasion on his former running mate, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano? Is the president acquiescence in consonance with his anti- corruption drive?

Traffic problems in Metro Manila and many urban areas and cities all over the country are getting worse even before they can get better.

The ten fingers and including the ten toes are not enough if we will count of what is to be improved under the present dispensation.

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