What we expect from President Duterte
AFTER running away with the presidency, Presidentelect Rodrigo Duterte is expected to hit the ground running. He must immediately put into action the many things necessary to solve our multifarious problems.
He should not be thick-skinned. He ought to lay aside his pugnacious streak and not quarrel with every Tom, Dick, and Harry to prove he is barako.
A Filipino chief executive working 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the next six years would not be able to solve our many ills.
Our difficulties would need generations to address. We have been left behind by Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore, who are now enjoying First World status.
Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangkok, Malaysia are on the cusp of success and might eventually leave us behind as well.
The country is menaced by drugs, diseases, criminals, traffic, urban blight, and income inequality. We have to address climate change, gender equality, poor infrastructure, resulting in vehicular traffic and aerial congestion.
We are faced with a belligerent neighbor who wants to own the source of our livelihood and the oil and gas beneath our ocean.
President Duterte has already proven that his mere words are enough to scare the living daylight out of some of our corrupt elements. He has yet to assume office and already, the police are rounding up of drug addicts, drunkards, and vagrants.
Mr. Duterte got 16.6 million votes, a landslide, because people wanted to see changes in their daily lives. The nation overwhelmingly voted for him because they see his honesty and are confident that he would not steal or allow his officials to steal us blind.
The people hope that he would go after the corrupt and the oppressors in our society and bring about equality, peace, and progress.
It seems pointless that instead of reserving his energy for the big challenges ahead, the president-elect would waste it by provoking the media, the Catholic Church, the United Nations and, who knows who’s next.
Mr. Duterte is aware that running a fractious country would require focus and dedication.
We are praying for him to succeed and become one of the greatest presidents this country ever had.