Mr DU30: First 100 days
Like him or loathe him he's kept to his word and really shaken things up.
According to the well respected SWS, Mr DU30 popularity and approval ratings remain high 100 days into his presidency.
Full details can be found here:-
http://www.sws.org.ph/swsmain/artcld...20161006061108
- On Drugs and Crime
Mr DU30's ticket came on the back of a promise to make the Philippines safer by tackling illegal drugs and crime with an iron fist.
Whereas Human Rights organisations have raised concerns that innocent peoplely risk being killed, and also state that hard line campaigns will never halt drug
use.
For the time being however Mr DU30 remains undeterred, going on to indicate that further time is needed to go after the high-value targets.
The volume of crime has fallen 49 percent.
- On Corruption
Mr DU30 Duterte promised to crack down hard on corruption.
He has already taken steps to remove senior police officials and senior civil servants from their posts. He also threatens to expose those 'oligarchs' by public announcements
and to follow up with arrest. Especially the major tax evaders.
His strategy is to simplify and fully automate processes and transactions in order to minimise opportunities for corruption.
To date more than 70 percent of the 1,389 local government departments audited were in full compliance.
- On Mining and Environment Polloution
Mr DU30 and his Environment Secretary Gina Lopez have reviewed and audited mining organisations.
This has resulted in written orders to either fully comply with local and international regulation or face shut down. The Philippines is a world leader in the
supply nickel ore.
To date 10 mining organisations have been suspended and a further 20 have been ordered to either comply or face shut down.
- On Traffic Congestion
DU30 has already resolved some longstanding disputed issues. This has resulted in 2 of 3 elevated railway lines in Manila being fully interconnected.
He has also requested emergency powers that will allow him to put roads through private subdivisions, completely ban provincial buses on major highways and to increase
the capacity of metro lines. To be honest he hasn't made the political progress he asked for and his impatience is increasing. So much so that he has now
signaled a strong willingness to accept Chinese investment for the needed infrastructure improvements.
We can only wait and see which way it pans out.
- On Economic Reforms
DU30 states that "economic growth is meaningless unless it benefits the poor.
He’s pushing hard to cut personal income tax and adjust taxes on petroleum products.
He also has a big push on the Finance Department's tax reforms. DU30 insists on a reforming the tax system to be fairer, simpler and more efficient.
Mr DU30 has a major strategy to reduce poverty to 17 percent from the current 26 percent within his in six years term and to see a pathway to having the Philippines a
high-income country within one generation.
- On Employment
There's no escaping the fact that the consumer economy is, to a large extent, supported by OFW remittances.
The official unemployment rate is stated at 5.4 percent. Mr DU30 want to improve the quality and also availability of jobs and and pay.
His administration is planning a national minimum wage.
The spin-off may even reduce the current increases in Manila population.
DU30 want to complete his strategy on minimising contractualisation. The government will move to cut by 50% the number of workers on short-term contracts before the
end of the 2016
The overiding strategy is to minimise the need for workers to seek overseas employment.
- Peace in Mindanao
So many years of troubles and conflict in Mindanao has created an island with the highest poverty rate in the Philippines.
It remains a big ask.
As Mr DU30 said “Peace building is a lifetime.”
Let's see what the next 100 days will bring..............
Quote Reply
Originally Posted by Terpe
