Has change come?

It will be one year since Rodrigo Roa Duterte became president on the back of a campaign promise that “change is coming.”

To assess what has been done for the Filipino people since he took office, it’s but right that the Filipino people judge the situation for themselves. In much the same way that Ronald Reagan in his famous television debate with former President Jimmy Carter, asked the American people, “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” we should ask the Filipino people questions about life under Duterte that only they can answer. Let us now ask:

Do you feel safer now than you did a year ago?

Has the drug problem been solved as President Duterte promised he would do in six months?

Is your faith in the Philippine National Police stronger?

Has crime incidence gone down? Is there better peace and order?

Do you believe that the PNP is now less corrupt, more efficient, and more protective of the people?

Do you believe that the country’s enemies, such as terrorists, have been crushed?

Is the New People’s Army weaker than a year ago and less able and less willing to launch attacks against the government?

Has the peace talks with CPP-NPA been beneficial to the people?

Has the government begun to address the roots of terrorism?

Is peace with our Moro brothers nearer?

Is unemployment less than a year ago?

Is self- rated poverty lower than a year ago?

Is food more affordable to more people?

Is inflation lower than last year’s?

Are rice prices lower? Do consumers have better quality of rice at lower prices?

Have we increased foreign direct investment faster than our neighbors have?

Is the investment climate better?

Have we liberalized foreign investment restrictions as candidate Duterte said he would?

Has growth been rebalanced from “imperial Manila” to the provinces?

Is GDP growth higher than last year?

Are our laborers much better off? Do they have more jobs than before? Is the traffic situation better? Is it easier and faster to get license plates? Your driver’s license cards?

Is service in the MRT better? Faster? More reliable?

Is your experience with the Ninoy Aquino International Airport better? Are the toilet facili-