Duterte on haters: I’ll just be a working president

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Incoming president Rodrigo Duterte yesterday said he would focus on performing his role as “working president” rather than pay attention to his critics.

Duterte, who got close to 16 million votes in the presidential race, said criticism, whether positive or negative, is part of governance.

“I really do not care who hates me,” he told GMA News in an interview aired yesterday.

“I have been in politics for 23 years. I’ve learned to accept garbage and divine light from others. For me, I would just like to be a working president.”

Duterte, known for his tough talk and iron fist rule as mayor of this city, said he was rarely portrayed positively in the media.

He, however, believes that voters would approve of his unconventional way of packaging himself.

“I’ve been in the government in the past 22 years. When did I look like an angel to you?” asked Duterte, who has earned the nickname “The Punisher” because of his strong anti-crime campaign.

“It was what the people wanted. Would you believe it, at this point, that was what they wanted. It was not even just a casual cursing. It was altogether virulent, as I said.

“But how did I have a margin of seven million if I was perceived as rude, foul-mouthed or bad boy? Why? No one can explain.”

Duterte’s spokesman Salvador Panelo said the incoming president would continue to do his job regardless of what people will say.

“He will not work depending on the reaction of the people. He will depend on the law. He has a policy and he will implement it. He has a program he will enforce,” Panelo said.

“There is a law that should be applied to all,” he added.

‘More investments needed’

Meanwhile, Duterte said the country needs more investments to keep the economy going.

“We need investors to come in for us to a have a robust economy and at the same time an inclusive growth,” he said.

He added that his economic team would draw up mechanisms to ensure the steady flow of investments into the Philippines.

Duterte also has, in a way, lowered the projected economic growth rate for the first year of his administration.

From a 7.8 percent growth rate that members of his transition team earlier projected, Duterte said it could be just between 5.5 and six percent.

Duterte stressed that 7.8 percent growth is too high an expectation for a new government.

He pointed out that should there be growth, it must be felt by all Filipinos, especially those in the lower income groups.

He said he would also bring government to the people by providing access to basic services, especially in the rural and hinterland areas.

The government, he said, must be felt by the people.

Duterte pointed out that he wants to make sure there would be food on every Filipino table.

Enough money

The outgoing Aquino administration gave assurance that there would be enough money when the Duterte government takes charge on June 30.

Only around 31 percent of state agency budgets were spent over the first four months of the year, underscoring the availability of funds for the next administration.

A total of P650.27 billion in notices of cash allocation (NCA) were issued as of April, data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showed.

That accounted for 31.4 percent of the P2.071-trillion budget for departments and offices as well as special purpose funds for their immediate needs.

The 2016 outlay is worth P3.002 trillion. The balance of P930.7 billion is in the form of automatic appropriations used mainly for debt servicing, retirement and pension for state workers and revenue share of local government units. – Alexis Romero, Edith Regalado