The First Year Accomplishments of Duterte Administration

Reaction Paper

Submitted to:

Mrs. Arlene Ll. Espina

EAPP

Submitted by:

Belongan, Bai Rasmia

Gomez, Geno

Paja, Maria Melanie

Tapi, Jophette

STEM-MILKYWAY

August 7, 2017
 For several decades, the Filipino people have been hoping for a leader who can

provide sustainable economy for the people and a promising industrialization for the

Filipino workers. We have been searching for a leader who can lead the Philippines to

success in every field that needs proper governance. In relation with this, the Filipino

people have elected Rodrigo Roa Duterte; a strong and iron-fisted man who is showing

compassion for his country. The Filipino people have voted him because of his

auspicious platforms and brilliant plans for the Philippines that may satisfy the citizens

who are seeking for a better change. In his platforms, he included several projects and

accomplishments that are related to Science, Technolgy, Engineering and Mathematics

which will greatly affect the modernization of the Philippines.

Firstly, on the first year of Pres. Duterte's governance, one of his promising

advocacies was to improve the science field. In an article under the Philippine Inquirer,

Duterte proudly stated that, “illegal mining is a scourge that must be eliminated, and we

are comitted to help the government achieve this objective in any way”. With this

statement we believe that the administration is somehow achieving their aim and

serious in improving the rules and regulations regarding the illegal mining issue.

However, he also admitted that implimenting new rules under mining issues will take

time after the rejection of Lopez to be the official secretary of the DENR, due to this

rejection, the hope regarding the change of illegal mining in the Philippine has also

rejected and frightenly to be vanished. Next to this is the improvement of the programs

of DENR regarding climate change adaptation. The current administration is preparing

to fulfill these programs as DENR new chief secretary Ramon Jesus Paje stated that “

The Phillipines is ready to cut its greenhouse gas emission and help save the planet,
even if it may negatively affect the country's economic growth…the cuts will be painful

because the commitment will require the public to moderate energy use and utilize

energy-saving or clean energy technologies that are more expensive than conventional

one”, he said that acknowledging the reliance on renewable energy must increase

based on news report in Philippine Daily Inquiry. With this statement, we do agree that

immediate action about the climate change must start as soon as possible even if the

country’s economy will be affected. Looking toward the positive side of saving the

environment, the economy can still be renewed in any practical way but the

environment is a non-renewable commodity and takes time to rehabilitate. In order for a

country to progress, the government must put an immediate concern in conserving the

environment and preventing it from any kind destruction. There are a lot ways to save

the environment. The only thing we need to do is to give time and effort without asking

anything in return. We also need to be responsible for our actions especially the things

that we use which resources are coming from the virgin forests and mountains.

Secondly, President Duterte has also promised railway system projects in Luzon

and Mindanao. According to Philippine Inquirer, it notes that “The implementation of the

2,000-kilometer Mindanao Railway project, which costs about US$9 billion, will start

next year, said Speaker Pantaleon.Alvarez said the first phase of infrastructure

implementation will start next year. Mindanao railway system, an iconic project for

Mindanao that will connect major cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Zamboanga, Butuan,

Surigao, General Santos and Davao, is one of the four major railway systems which

President Rodrigo Duterte promised to build. The other three lines are Manila-Nueva

Vizcaya, Manila-Sorsogon and Manila-Batangas”. We strongly approve these kinds of

projects. These projects will be fruitful in terms of technological transportation and the

economy of the Philippines; also, it will be efficient in building a stable transport for

exchanging goods and products between cities. Other than transporting goods, the

people will also benefit from having an ease in making transactions with other cities.

This would also actively boost the tourists in the area and we can promote our tourist

spots without any hassle and the effort of travelling into other places would be lessen.

Still, it doesn’t end there, once the railway system is finished, we can all have the

advantage of lesser fee in riding railway transportation instead of riding a gas powered

vehicles which is only limited in terms of driving distance compared to electric powered

trains. Next to this the administration will also provide accessible and improve internet

connection. In the article entitled Duterte pitches plans for better internet, free Wi-Fi, in

the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Duterte, he said that “I also

directed the newly-created Department of Information and Communications Technology

to craft a National Broadband Plan to accelerate the deployment of fiber optic cables

and wireless technologies to improve internet speed. He also said the he would put up

hotspots where Wi-Fi can be accessed for free, “Wi-Fi access shall be provided at no

charge in selected places. He said to the two main telecommunication companies to

shape up or face new competition, “You improve the service or I will open the

Philippines. All can come in,” he addresed lastMay. As we can see, the internet fee in

the Philippines increase but the internet speed decrease due to hunger of connectivity

and the capacity of internet connection is limited only. The implementation of faster

internet can help isolated places to reach in convenient way. Although many illegal

actions happen in internet media, but through this the people can raise awareness to
the events happen inside and outside of the country. The people can engage and

express their thoughts so that other individuals can be driven to have a positive

change.In other schools in Philippines, internet connection is very important, because it

helps the students to interact through media like report presentation, visual media

design and ICT. Through internet connection the students can research in an easy and

accessible way.

Lastly, President Duterte's State of the Nation Address also tackles about the

projects under infrastracture program include the Mega Manila Subway, Mindanao

Railway, North Luzon Expressway, South Luzon Expressway Connector Road,

Bonifacio Global Bus Rapid Transit, Subic- Clark Cargo Railway, and PNR North- South

Railway. According Philippine Daily Inquirer, “We are building new airports… we shall

complete strategic road and bridge project and some road projects will be winded to

address the worsening traffic” Duterte said. Also the former Transporation Secretary

Arthur Tugade offers “golden age of infrastructure project, which set to be sight in

November by President Duterte together with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to

support the project. Tugade said that the first phase of the 2,000-km Mindanao Rail

expected to be completed by 2021. The P32-billion line would connect Tagum with

Davao and Digos city, which have a distance of 104 km. In these statements, we do

believe that insfractructure specially constructing move roads and highways can

improve economic bussiness into efficient Mindanao logistics in delivery of goods and it

will lessen the traffic congestion which primary cause the delay of infrastructure

materials and other transporting of goods which can be affect the business. Although it

is so expensive to provide the needs in construction, it is also affecting some ecological

area but after the construction the people can be benefit to the said project. It gives

oppurtunity to the unemployed people to give job and find their worth. However, it also

gives improvement to tourism in our country, as more airports will be constructed many

tourist will be coming into our country and the economic will grow.

In conclusion, the platforms of President Duterte in several projects will help to

build modernization. Although there possible disadvantages, we realize that the positive

effects are more obvious than the negative effects. His acts, ordinance, and polices are

concerning to the state of the Philippine which is to find solutions related to controversial

problems. Looking back to modernization, the solutions in which he refers are all ralted

to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. With this, Filipinos will be

enlightened with the idea of change for a better and successful country. We can all

learn from every step of President Duterte advocacies if we only know our reasonable

purpose toward this country and take those responsibilities to uphold great

accomplishments. Together with unity, we can change the Philippines into an excellent

country and what does alwayss President Duterte wanted us to be.