BAGUIO CITY, June 2 (PIA) — The sixth “ Kasama sa Pamana Pre – SONA (State of the Nation Address) Series being spearheaded by the Office of Executive Secretary , Office of the Cabinet Secretary and the Presidential Communications Operations Office was held Tuesday (June 1) at the Baguio Convention Center to share updates, insights on the policies/programs and accomplishments of the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as well as report on government response on the COVID-19 to the people of the Cordillera Region.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles presented the National Food Policy’s key result areas and comprehensive roadmap that is being spearheaded by the Inter Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger created through the President’s Executive Order 101 Series of 2020.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar who is the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security for Cordillera, meanwhile, presented the accomplishments or gains in the region under the Duterte Administration.
He cited a significant decrease of poverty incidence in the region. From 22.7 percent in 2015, it went down to 12% in 2018, and this was made possible with the growth in regional economy.
Video presentations on the accomplishments of the different governance clusters were also presented.
Department of Health – Cordillera Assistant Regional Director Dr. Amelita Pangilinan also presented the COVID – 19 update for Cordillera and the accomplishments on the rollout of the National Vaccination Program in the region.
Nograles outlined that amidst the challenges brought by COVID – 19, the government continues to work guided by prayers for the safety of everyone.
With the Pre-SONA Series, they aim to inform people of the major accomplishments of the President and the continuing policy direction of the administration until 2022, as well as the government’s response against COVID – 19, including the nationwide vaccination and deployment program.
PIA Director General Ramon Cualoping III, in his closing message, said that as the Duterte administration approaches its tail end, the President will leave his six – year term with unsurpassed popularity, where the people have sustained him with their thrust, respect and endearment, through the best of times and the worst of times.
“His accomplishments would forever remain to be emulated, sometimes criticized but mostly appreciated, and it is up on us to continue whatever legacy he has for the people”, Cualoping stressed.
He shared that among President Duterte’s legacies is the campaign for an illegal drug- free Philippines, the golden age of infrastructure through the Build, Build Build Build program, ending insurgency through Executive Order no 70 that pushes for a whole of nation approach to end local communist armed conflict and the fight against COVID – 19 that includes the provision of safe, effective and free vaccines for all Filipinos.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the event is marked by the four Cs in good governance namely, cooperation, collaboration, coordination and communication, as we push ourselves to pave and smoothen the way towards a recovered Philippines. **JDP/CCD-PIA CAR