President Rodrigo Duterte vowed Thursday to deliver five fundamental changes to the country that he promised since the 2016 elections.
“I promised you that there will be changes. Actually, if you listened carefully during the elections, I promised only about five [changes],” the President said during his speech in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.
“I am in the process of complying[with] my fundamental promises to you. One is corruption, and I am working very hard [on this]. I may not be able to change everything, but at least I could make a difference with how things were and how things are now,” he said, citing the demolition of smuggled luxury cars in Port Irene, Cagayan.
He added that he has fired several government officials because of excessive travel expenses.
“The second is drugs. I have made plenty of enemies [fighting drugs],” he said. “Even God was included.”
Duterte said he does not have the time to formulate arguments to resolve the issue on drugs, so he came up with a campaign to address the problem instead.
“I only have bullets. With drugs, you and I will never get along because of human rights,” he said. “Even if they [drug victims] survive, the majority of the victims’ lives have been ruined and they are innocent. They will go insane and the family will break apart.”
“To those involved in the illegal drug trade, you may be rich now but don’t be too complacent,” the President warned.
Third, Dutere said he will raise money. “I have been to many places to borrow money,” he said, hoping to elevate the country’s finances.
He said the current taxation system is difficult. “The government can survive with just the taxes alone. That’s about the only income of government,” he said. “We can’t just print the money that we want to spend. We cannot print the money more than our value in the economy.”
Duterte also emphasized the need to create peace with the enemies of the state.
“I’m trying to talk to everybody. I said I would talk to the enemies of the state. I have been talking to Nur,” the President said, referring to Moro National Liberation Front founder and leader Nur Misuari.
“Let us talk because we are old. Fighting is no longer an option for you and for me. Let’s just talk,” he said.
“To the communists, we will talk eventually whichever way you want it. But we will talk in a matter of time. But I am quite tough,” he added. “We have to talk someday. I may not be the President by that time but we have to talk because we cannot fight a war against our own people.”
And last, Duterte addressed the economy, including the lack of job opportunities.
He said that in the United States, the value of the US dollar is high because a lot of people visit America, adding that they are the ones who make the airplanes and cars.
“We just keep on buying, but our sales are low. We earn a lot when we export our products to other countries like China. But here, we’re the only ones who buy our own products. I’ll buy your automobile and market goods and sell it again. And then you buy again. It [the money] just circulates,” said Duterte.
He also said the gross domestic product was growing at about 6.7 percent. “That’s very good,” he said. “We’re almost equal with China.”
“In Manila, the employment is a little brisk because there are plenty of projects. But here in the provinces, there are none,” the President said, and expressed hope that newly elected House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo can help the country with her economist approach.
“I am pushing for tarrification to address the problem with expensive rice,” he said.
Duterte delivered his speech Thursday in celebration with the 69th Araw ng Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay.
