Philippine president Duterte still has mass base support

By APD writer Melo M. Acuna

MANILA, June 28 (APD) – Despite the negative reactions to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, he still has mass base support. This was how political scientist Ramon Casiple looks at the chief executive’s popularity which topped at 80%.

Speaking over Wednesday Roundtable @ Lido, Mr. Casiple said President Duterte had 39% of the Filipino voters during last year’s national elections.

“This simply means most people who support him now were not part of the people who voted for him,” Casiple, executive director of an non-government organization known as Institute for Political and Economic Reforms.

President Duterte's pursuit of an independent foreign policy would bring benefits to the country, thus said UP Prof. Aileen S. P. Baviera at a public forum earlier.

University of the Philippines’ Asian Center professor Dr. Aileen S. P. Baviera said comparing President Duterte’s accomplishments in foreign policy during the first year shows a remarkable change in pursuing an independent foreign policy by diversifying partnerships with China, Russia, Japan and the ASEAN along with the United States of America.

“However, there were some missteps that while developing new partnerships, we antagonized our old partners,” she said. Professor Baviera said the process could be refined for optimum results.

The Duterte government's focus on food security would benefit the poor people according to Ateneo School of Government Dean Ronald U. Mendoza.

Dr. Ronald U. Mendoza, Dean of the Ateneo School of Government said the government’s program on food security, specifically on rice under Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B. Evasco, Jr. could benefit poor people.

“It is a difficult job because he’s (Secretary Evasco) is fighting vested interests,” Dr. Mendoza said.

He added the private sector is concerned why the government shifted from the Private-Public Partnership to government-initiated “Build-Build-Build.”

Businessman Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr., honorary chairman of the influential Employers Confederation of the Philippines said their sector appreciates Mr. Duterte’s efforts to bring foreign direct investments and develop tourism.

“Mr. Duterte’s visit to China would bring foreign direct investments never seen before and cannot be expected from traditional western allies within five to ten years,” Ortiz-Luis said.

He added there’s not a month a big business delegation from China would visit the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry expressing their desire to invest in the Philippines,” he further said. He cited the growth in tourism with travelers from Northern China who have visited tourist spots across the country. He attributes these accomplishments to Mr. Duterte’s foreign policy.

President Duterte still has mass support. Political analyst Ramon Casiple said it is rare for any Philippine president to keep a high popularity rating after nearly a year in office. he added this comes after the widely-criticised war on illegal drugs.

Mr. Casiple said the country’s economic gains today were rooted on the programs implemented by the previous Arroyo and Aquino governments as seen in the stability of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which has remain at 6.0+% and the classifications given by credit rating agencies.

“President Duterte’s initial policy that nothing will be changed in economic fundamentals is proof he doesn’t want to rock the boat,” he explained. Proof of this is the appoinment of an “insider” to replace outgoing Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco, Jr. whose term would end soon.

Dr. Mendoza cited former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan who said 60% of the country’s GDP comes from Regions IV-A (CALABARZON), III (Central Luzon) and NCR or National Capital Region.

“It is not enough to build infrastructure across the country because it ought to be clear for what purpose are these projects,” Dr. Mendoza said. He explained the location of these projects should also be clear.

He called for an inter-connection among regions and build more growth centers because it is in these areas where people come looking for work.

All the resource persons credited Mr. Duterte for his no-nonsense campaign against corruption in government after the chief executive dismissed two of his closest allies after they were associated with graft and corrupt practices.

Asked how they will rate President Duterte’s first year in office, Dr. Mendoza said the most important program was on food security though the government’s downside is its anti-drugs campaign which left thousands of people killed in alleged vigilante and highly-suspicious police operations.

Mr. Casiple said he would give his rating after President Duterte has accomplished what he mentioned in his public engagements. He said Mr. Duterte vowed to rid Mindanao of American troops and yet, there are Americans in military operations against the Maute Group, the self-styled ISIS-inspired local terrorists.

Mr. Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr. said he would give President Duterte during his first year in office 4+ with 5 as the highest.

Dr. Mendoza said the Chinese government could help the Philippines through its vigorous anti-corruption program because of the huge amount of money from China for the infrastructure projects.

“We have to watch out for possible kickbacks so we will not have another Bataan Nuclear Power Plant which became a while elephant and left the country and people in debt,” Mendoza said as he referred to China’s serious and all-out campaign against corruption.

“From stressful relations during the past administration which normalized today, closer ties could be achieved where what used to be problem areas would be discussed through bilateral negotiations to explore natural resources which could be beneficial to everyone,” Mr. Casiple said as he looked to the next step in Philippines-China relations.

Mr. Casiple said the peak of diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines could be achieved once Filipinos get to see pandas from China because the world’s second largest economy gives pandas to their closest friends.

Dr. Baviera said the both the Philippines and China could benefit from the Belt and Road Initiative through bilateral projects, its infrastructure projects such as roads, railways and bridges. However, she added the more people would appreciate the efforts should China explain its policy coordination, docking and development programs into its own because countries like thePhilippines is a sovereign state.

Business leader Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr. said he's giving President Duterte a rating of 4+ with 5 as highest for his first year in office with all the programs and investments that are coming in, notably from China.

Mr. Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr. said he took part in the Asian Investment Infrastructure Bank (AIIB) in South Korea and he is convinced the Philippines should benefit from the programs of the last investment facility.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)