PUNCHLINE
Believe it or not, change is here
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
OVER the past 15 months, I have been preoccupied with the political noise that polluted the air since PDU30 took over last July 1, 2016.
Too preoccupied perhaps following the developments in the war on drugs that I practically forgot all about the promise of real CHANGE in our government that he reiterated throughout the campaign. I was beginning to think that the success of the war on drugs was all the ‘Change’ that the DU30 was talking about, until I came across a post on FB that talked about the many ‘changes’ around us.
I took note and I was pleasantly surprised to find out I had fully discounted so many changes around me and us.
After reviewing, checking and validating the changes mentioned, I decided to list them for more people to know and be aware of the fact that we have a government that was serious about its campaign promises and was not simply into “Change is Coming” sloganeering during the campaign.
So when I learned about the reported trip of Sen. Antonio Trillanes to the US on the heels of month long visit of DFA Sec. Alan Peter Cayetano to the US for the round of meetings with UN bodies and American investors, I felt posting the listing would be timely. These are facts that Mr. Trillanes would undoubtedly sweep under the carpet while trumpeting the human rights violations allegations aired incessantly by the political opposition. Below was what I posted on my FB account.
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WHAT TRILLANES WON’T TELL US POLITICIANS
Sen. Trillanes is in the US to spread more tall tales about the Philippine government in his attempt at destabilizing the Duterte administration.
He will hide the ff :
- PH external debt has shed off $5.2 B as of June 2017.
2. Highest PSEi recently closed at all-time high 8,312.93
3. Reduction of processing days of business permits and licenses (down to 2 days for new business registration and 1 day for renewals), Tax Clearance Certificates (TCC) (down to 2 working days from submission of complete documents), and certificates authorizing registration (down to 5 days from the previous 10 days); implementation of a 3-day maximum time for Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) applications.
4. Duterte’s political will had cost Lucio Tan P6B, Mile Long Property P1.7 B w/o Tax and Mighty Cigarettes P25 B.
5. The ongoing tracking of tax evaders among oligarchs.
6. The continuing bilateral talks with China over the WPS dispute.
7. Free tuition for SUC students.
8. Installation of free internet in many public places.
9. Validity of passports extended to 10 years.
10. Removal of allotments to travel agencies for passport processing.
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- Faster processing of passports by DFA.
12. Driver’s license validity extended to five years.
13. OEC exemption for OFWs returning to same employer!
14. Improved one-stop shop for OFWs in POEA.
15. Removal of OFW processing fee on travel tax exemption.
16. The immediate repatriation of stranded OFWs in Saudi Arabia.
17. The P2,000 increase in SSS pension.
18. Stiffer penalties for hospitals refusing to treat indigent patients.
19. The one sack rice added to 4Ps cash assistance to indigent families.
20. Empowered and highly motivated men and women in uniform now willing to serve the country with pride and higher self esteem, fighting effectively against NPA, Abu Sayyaf, Islamist extremists and terrorists.
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- Ongoing upgrading of hospital facilities for armed forces and scheduled salary increase for the servicemen.
22. Facilitation of releases of death benefits to families of fallen men in uniform.
23. Indefinite ceasefire between the MNLF, MILF, CPP NDF and the government (held in Norway)
24. The Mindanao peace process that has resumed in Malaysia.
25. The shutdown/closure of some mining companies that destroy the country’s natural resources.
26. The removal of the fishing fences in Laguna de Bay to give other small fishermen a fair chance to use it for their livelihood.
27. Free irrigation of farmlands.
28. Microfinancing assistance thru Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) program for the underprivileged Filipino entrepreneurs in Mindoro, Leyte, and Sarangani as pilot provinces.
29. The distribution of agricultural equipment purchased by the Aquino government but weren’t distributed.
30. Awarding of Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) to Hacienda Luisita farmers starting with 111 beneficiaries, as of February 2017.
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- Free medical assistance in six hospitals that offer the Libreng Gamot Para sa Masa (Lingap) program that benefited some 9,429 indigents (from March to June 9).
32. Fielding of new buses from the airport to many major hubs in nearby cities.
33. The No-VIP treatment for government officials in airports.
34. The legit balikbayan boxes are safer from pilferages.
35. The laglag-bala racket at airports stopped.
36. NAIA airport no longer one of worst airports in the world.
37. The major drastic reforms at the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bureau of Customs.
38. Identifying local executives, police generals, judges and other top officials in government involved in illegal drugs.
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- The crackdown on Bilibid Drug Trade and filing of criminal cases vs Leila de Lima as then DOJ Secretary under whose term drug lords in detention managed to operate.
40. The P18.4 B worth of drugs seized, 172 drug dens and laboratories demolished and dismantled by PDEA-PNP.
41. The more than 1M self-confessed drug dealers and addicts that surrendered, and their ongoing rehabilitation; 113,932 arrested drug dealers, and 3,906 drug dealers killed (not 13,000) during police operations.
42. Tighter security of jails to prevent entry of contraband items particularly drugs, weapons, cellphones.
43. Crime rate in Manila dropped by 38% for the past 12 months.
44. The curfew hours for minors in many towns and cities.
45. End of Contractualization as an employment policy for employees.
46. Strict enforcement of labor laws particularly on security of tenure that benefited 45,605 workers (from July 2016 to March 2017).
47. No more age limit requirements for all job seekers.
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- The closure of online gambling of 4,000 outlets during the Arroyo admin, 8,000 outlets during Aquino admin.
49. Fast-tracking the rehabilitation of Yolanda-affected areas with the construction of 50,791 housing units and 1,790 new classrooms and the repair of 701 state colleges and universities, 38 airport facilities, and 27 seaport facilities, as of the first quarter of 2017.
50. Memorandum Circular 25 directing the display of pictures of Philippine heroes in lieu of elected or appointed government officials.
51. Opened the DAR gates that were closed for 18 years.
52. The increased training allowances for Olympics athletes and coaches.
53. Established centralised complaint and action hotlines – 911 and 8888 (to report inefficient government office or agency)
54. The immediate issuance of Executive Order for Freedom of Information to promote transparency in govt.
55. The ongoing correction of MRT/LRT inefficient performance caused by irregular purchases and maintenance contracts by previous administration.
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I thought this administration did well compared to past administrations considering that it never enjoyed the traditional 100 day-honeymoon with mainstream media that was critical of PDU30 from Day 1 to this day.
Wouldn’t you think so?
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