Nothing wrong with
‘flaunting’ gov’t accomplishments: Andanar
By
Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
 |
| Presidential Communications Operations
Office Secretary Martin Andanar |
MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration
is reporting its achievements in just three years in office because Filipinos
deserve to know that all state departments are working harder to improve their
lives, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin
Andanar said Tuesday.
Andanar,
who led the launch of the “Duterte Legacy” campaign in Pasay City last Friday,
said there was a need to promote public awareness about the accomplishments of
state departments halfway through the President’s six-year term.
“Mandate
naman natin sa PCOO ang i-disseminate ang
impormasyon na nanggagaling sa Ehekutibo at iyong mga accomplishments
(It is the PCOO’s mandate to disseminate information about the executive branch
and its accomplishments). Now, why are we doing this?” he said in an interview
with dzRH.
“It’s
very important for us to do this because meron naman talagang dapat
ipagmayabang, ipagbuhat ng bangko (this administration has the right
to flaunt its achievements and praise itself),” the PCOO chief added.
Andanar’s
statement came after Senator Panfilo Lacson on Saturday said it was “too early”
to present Duterte’s legacy since the President has only been in office for
three years.
Despite
Lacson’s claim, the Communications chief said it is important to tell the
public that many of Duterte’s promises cited in his previous State of the
Nation Address (SONA) have already been delivered.
“You
know, people may have their opinion, their own opinion kung ito ba ay (if
it’s) early or not too early,” Andanar said.
“Ang
mahalaga dito ay ating naipapaalam sa publiko na iyong mga nabanggit ni
Presidente sa kanyang plataporma nung 2016 at
iyong mga nababanggit niya pa sa mga SONA ay meron ng case
studies na talagang andito na (What’s important is we’re able to
let the public know that the President’s platforms mentioned in 2016 and in his
previous SONAs are already here), signed, sealed, delivered,” he added.
The
“Duterte Legacy” is a communication campaign that highlights the current
administration’s landmark policies and programs.
The
campaign launch trumpeted the Duterte government’s legacies on education,
infrastructure, health, labor, freedom of information, press freedom and media
protection, peace and order, and environmental protection.
The
campaign focuses on the administration’s progress in three key pillars, namely
peace and order, infrastructure development, and poverty alleviation.
On
Saturday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the accomplishments of
the Duterte administration during his three years in office are “far better”
than his predecessors’.
No
credit-grabbing
Denying
that the government is grabbing credit for its feats, Andanar admitted that
some of the projects that are being implemented under Duterte’s watch were
initiated by the past administration.
He
said the government has no plan of wasting the taxpayers’ money by abandoning
the unfinished projects of Duterte’s predecessor.
Thus,
the current administration will continue what was left undone by the previous
administration of former President Benigno Aquino III, Andanar said.
“Nag-allocate
ka na ng pondo, eh sayang naman iyong taxpayers’
money, hindi mo tatapusin (You allocated funds so it’s a waste
of taxpayers’ money if you do not finish it),” he said.
“Marami
pong mga dapat ituloy talaga (There
are many projects that really need to be continued). I believe that governance
is about continuity. Hindi puwede iyong project noong
nakaraang administrasyon hindi natapos, hindi mo tatapusin (It’s not
acceptable to ignore the unfinished projects of the past administration),” he
added.
‘Duterte
Legacy’ campaign in other provinces
To
further promote the flagship projects and programs of the Duterte government,
Andanar noted that there will be a series of the launching of “Duterte Legacy”
campaign in Cebu, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro provinces.
He
said other government departments that are not part of the first launch of the
communications campaign, like the Transportation and Trade departments will be
given the chance to present their accomplishments.
“Hindi
naman lahat ng departamento nakapagsalita doon (Not all departments were able
to report their achievements),” Andanar said. (PNA)
