Deconstructing Duterte’s Clamor for Radical Change in the Philippines

By Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit

President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines delivers his first State of the Nation Address on July 25, 2016. Source: Wikimedia, public domain.

President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines delivers his first State of the Nation Address on July 25, 2016. Source: Wikimedia, public domain.

Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte on July 25 delivered his first State of the Nation Address in which he summed up his legislative, projects, and public services priorities to achieve his vision of a people-centered government during his six-year term. In his 90 minute speech, Duterte emphasized his desire to intensify the nationwide anti-drug, anti-crime, and anti-corruption campaign; build peace with the armed communist movement and Moro separatists; and transform the government into a federal-parliamentary system.

Impressively, 91 percent of the Filipino people trust that he will deliver, according to a July 2-8 Pulse Asia survey.

This blog will review Duterte’s policy priorities against six governance initiatives:

First, the Duterte administration is adopting an introspective form of strategic leadership that reflects his strong emphasis on law and order. The government’s campaign to combat social evils intensified as soon as Duterte assumed office, soon after which he personally named five “narco-generals” and replaced the guards of the New Bilibid Prison, where drug lords reportedly live in “luxurious” conditions, with elite Special Action police forces.

In a July 14 report, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism said that in the first two weeks of July, around 66,300 people voluntarily surrendered for drug offenses, 1,800 suspects were arrested, and 135 suspects were killed. More than 43,000 houses were “visited” under Project Tokhang, with over $3 million worth of illegal drugs seized. Several civil society groups have raised concern about the respect for due process, and called on Duterte to halt the growing number of extra-judicial killings.

Duterte also turned his anti-crime sights on the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), vowing to employ the full force of the armed forces and strengthen coordination with Indonesia and Malaysia to crush the ASG and other lawless elements.

Duterte declared a unilateral ceasefire with the communist New People’s Army, effective immediately, in preparation for the resumption of peace talks. He urged Congress to pass a more inclusive, more constitutionally compliant form of the Bangsamoro Basic Law  which would serve as a template for his envisioned federal structure. Throughout his speech, Duterte emphasized his desire for a radical shift to a federal-parliamentary form of government that would decentralize power.

Second, Duterte vowed to provide concrete mechanisms to render the government more transparent and accountable. Just before the speech, he signed an executive order providing freedom of information to Filipinos—quickly fulfilling a campaign promise.

To improve accountability, Duterte is set to implement an 8888 anti-corruption hotline for Filipinos to report the practices of wayward public officials. The National Telecommunications Commission has already issued an order for the hotline’s use effective August 1.

Duterte vowed to strictly implement environmental standards. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has embarked on a new pro-environment crusade, auditing all mining firms in the country. The department will seek a bigger revenue share for the government, and suspend those mines which fail to comply with safety standards

Third, Duterte also set his sights on the country’s need to industrialize and improve the quality of life of all citizens through responsive public services. He unveiled a plan to improve existing roads, bridges, and railways and develop new logistics networks and transit systems. To resolve traffic congestion in Manila, he asked for emergency powers and proposed the revival of daily operations of the Pasig River Ferry Service System. These moves will facilitate freer and faster movement of goods and people across the archipelago.

The Department of Budget and Management said it will adopt a hybrid form of public-private partnership, under which the government will construct infrastructure while a private firm will perform maintenance. Duterte earlier met with Chinese diplomats in an effort to attract investment in building railway systems. To address congestion at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, he proposed the construction of a new airport at Sangley Point, Cavite, southwest of Manila, suggested that other flights be moved to Clark International Airport, which will be connected to Manila via railway.

For agriculture, Duterte promised to provide free irrigation for farmers and establish modern harvest and postharvest facilities to minimize losses. He tasked the Department of Agriculture with conducting nationwide soil analysis to optimize the production of rice and other crops. He also vowed to strictly enforce fisheries laws, particularly against illegal fishing and promote aquaculture along river banks.

With regard to the environment, Duterte reiterated that he will not honor the landmark Paris Agreement on Climate Change, believing that its restrictive provisions on carbon emissions will stifle the country’s ability to jumpstart industrialization.

Duterte vowed to address the bottlenecks in the government bureaucracy reducing processing time for issuing business permits, clearances, and licenses to the barest minimum, preferably within three days at the maximum.

Fourth, Duterte said he will continue the strong macroeconomic policies and honor the contracts signed by the Aquino government. He said he will appoint pro-business technocrats who will balance his naming of some left-leaning leaders to the cabinet, thereby helping translate high growth into more job creation and poverty reduction. Duterte stressed the need to attract more investment, particularly in manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism.

Fifth, Duterte advocated for the implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law. He said this is aimed at empowering Filipino families, especially the poor to have freedom of informed choice on the number and spacing of children. He lobbied for Universal Health Care through PhilHealth which will broaden access to quality health services.  He called for tax reform which would entail lowering income and corporate taxes.

Finally, Duterte’s foreign policy will depart from his predecessor by seeking to balance relations between the United States and China, and maintain a more moderate stance on China’s actions in the South China Sea dispute. Despite the favourable arbitral tribunal ruling on the South China Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs called for restraint  rather than increasing diplomatic pressure on China to comply with the tribunal ruling.

Duterte recruited former president Fidel V. Ramos as his special envoy for high-level talks with China. It remains to be seen whether Duterte will use the ruling as the basis for negotiations with China. There are hints that he may put the ruling on the backburner in exchange for increased Chinese financial and infrastructural aid.

Duterte generally has succeeded in energizing the government bureaucracy in his first 100 days in office and giving the Filipino population new hope that his administration is committed to political, economic, and social reform. The challenge for Duterte is to sustain the momentum of his radical agenda by translating his vision into strong, dynamic, and first-world state institutions that will outlive his time in office.

Professor Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit is president of the Stratbase Albert Del Rosario Institute for Strategic and International Studies.

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