UniTeam senatorial candidate Harry Roque counts the “build, build, build program,” low crime rate, and Covid-19 vaccination drive as among the achievements of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Roque also considers the enactment of landmark legislation such as the Universal Health Care act and National AIDS act legislation as a solid achievement by the outgoing administration.
“The last five years saw the no-nonsense team of President Duterte accomplishing a lot for Filipinos,” Roque said. “The executive department has worked hard despite the constant threat of terrorism, criminality, pandemic, and destabilization by political rivals.”
The former member of the House of Representatives commended the government for inroads in terms of peace and order, health care, and infrastructure development.
“We all bear witness to the golden age of infrastructure, as well as the lowest national crime index in years. We now have Universal Health Care law, which made our national Covid-19 vaccination program possible,” he said.
“This is why President Duterte’s public satisfaction rating is high months before his term ends on June 30 this year,” he added.
The health and human rights advocate expressed gratitude to the President for enacting into law 10 of his principally-authored House bills. Duterte certified these measures as urgent.
“It was only in the time of President Duterte did we finally have a law on free irrigation for farmers, free tuition for students of state colleges and universities, or free lunch for elementary pupils,” Roque said.
Roque authored the country’s first law on universal health care, Republic Act 111223, otherwise known as the Universal Health Care for All Filipinos.
He was also the principal author of the following legislation:
-Republic Act 11166 or strengthening the Philippine comprehensive policy on HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care, and support;
-Republic Act 10931 or promoting universal access to quality tertiary education by providing for free tuition and other school fees in state universities and colleges and state-run technical-vocational institutions;
-Republic Act 10969 or strengthening assistance to all farmers by providing free irrigation service fees and other similar or related charges; and
-Republic Act 10931 or institutionalizing the national school feeding program for public kindergarten and elementary pupils.
If elected, Roque vowed to push for justice system reforms like the ‘three-day hearing rule,’ zero-hunger act, right to potable water, job creation, and better health care implementation.
According to the Department of Interior and Local Government, the country’s crime volume between 2016 and 2021 decreased by 73 percent.
In its 2021 accomplishment report, the Department of Public Works and Highways completed 4,097 kilometers of roads, 510 bridges, and 1,593 flood control structures.
Since 2016, the Department of Transportation has completed 121 airport projects and 446 seaport projects.
The department works on railway projects such as the Metro Manila Subway, MRT-7, North-South Commuter Railway Project, LRT-1 Cavite Extension, and Subic-Clark Railway Project.
Meantime, the Department of Health reported that 61.6 million Filipinos nationwide had been fully vaccinated as of February 2022. At least 94 percent of target individuals living in Metro Manila have been vaccinated.
