Thread by @PhilstarNews

#The30Promises: Today, President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to deliver his fifth State of the Nation Address at 4 pm.

But before that, here are 30 promises Duterte made throughout his term.

Get live updates on #SONA2020 here: philstar.com/sona-2020

1. In June 2016, Duterte vowed to be harsh and that he will clean up what he described as “corrupt agencies,” namely the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Customs and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

philstar.com/headlines/2016…

2. In July 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte said that he would open the gates of "Malacañang" to the poor, especially the school children.

Duterte said children could “bring their pillows and bedsheets and sleep” in the Palace.

philstar.com/headlines/2016…

3. In 2016, the chief executive also promised to implement the Freedom of Information bill, which will require agencies to disclose information about their projects and matters that involve public interest.

Until now, the measure is still in Congress.

philstar.com/headlines/2020…

4. Duterte vowed to be just as determined in implementing the Reproductive Health Law, as well as other measures promoting the rights of women and indigenous people.

philstar.com/headlines/2016…

5. Duterte promised to find ways to uplift the lives of the poor, and said that shanties of squatters would not be demolished until the government finds a relocation site.

But even mid-pandemic, the urban poor have been facing eviction from their homes.

philstar.com/headlines/2016…

6. After the Marawi crisis, Duterte vowed to rehabilitate Marawi, adding that he would spearhead the reconstruction and rebuilding of the city.

Three years later, Marawi residents are still complaining about the slow rehabilitation of their city.

philstar.com/headlines/2017…

7. In his campaign period and during his first year in office, the President claimed he will get rid of “corruption, criminality, and drugs” in three to six months, and told Filipinos to kill him if he doesn’t.

philstar.com/headlines/2016…

8. A year after Duterte’s war on drugs started, the country had logged thousands of extra-judicial killings.

The chief executive then promised to “slaughter” policemen involved in EJKs.

philstar.com/headlines/2017…

9. Duterte also vowed to step down if he doesn’t eradicate drugs and corruption within three to six months.

Way past his promised date, the war on drugs still continues.

philstar.com/headlines/2016…

10. In 2017, during the chief executive’s second SONA, he claimed to make the next few years the “Golden Age of Infrastructure in the Philippines” to enhance our mobility and connectivity.

Do you think we’re in the golden age of infrastructure now?

philstar.com/headlines/2017…

11. Back in August 2017, Duterte vowed to go after a Lopez-owned firm which allegedly owe debts to the government.

Three years later, ABS-CBN, which is owned by the Lopezes has been forced to shut down over several allegations which have been debunked.

philstar.com/headlines/2017…

12. Duterte also promised to back agrarian reform and uplift the lives of farmers.

But a peasant group said the current admin recorded the lowest land acquisition and distribution in its first three years against comparable periods of other admins.

philstar.com/headlines/2017…

13. In his first year, he vowed to defend Philippine claims in the West Philippine Sea, even saying during his campaign period that he would go to the disputed waters on a jet ski.

A year after he was elected, he said his remark was just a joke.

philstar.com/headlines/2018…

14. In 2018, Duterte has again vowed to refrain from cursing, a promise that he has made and broken many times before.

philstar.com/headlines/2018…

15. He also vowed to fill the Cabinet with the “best and brightest people.” But in 2018, he appointed a “non-librarian” as the director of the National Library, while several of his cabinet members have constantly been criticized for their actions.

philstar.com/headlines/2018…

16. Back in 2018, Duterte promised to stop abuses of overseas Filipino workers. He claimed that his administration is working to stop the maltreatment of OFWs in the Middle East.

philstar.com/headlines/2018…

17. Expect “radical changes” in government in the coming days, said Duterte in 2018 after he vowed to use his “meager emergency power to the hilt” to check rising criminality.

philstar.com/headlines/2018…

18. In 2018, Duterte promised to continue efforts to secure a "progressive" future for future generations, and claimed that the government remains steadfast in promoting physical education and encouraging sports programs.

philstar.com/headlines/2018…

19. Putting an end to "endo" was among Duterte's campaign promises.

But in 2018, Duterte admitted he does not have the power to enforce a total ban on contractualization.

philstar.com/headlines/2018…

20. During his third SONA, the President claimed the country will continue to assert and pursue an independent foreign policy.

philstar.com/headlines/2018…

21. In the same SONA, Duterte also vowed to do his “very best” as the country's leader as he defended his controversial policies.

philstar.com/headlines/2018…

22. In August 2018, Duterte vowed that there will be no new casinos in the country and stressed that he is against gambling.

However, he continues to excuse POGOs which are online gambling firms operating in the Philippines.

philstar.com/headlines/2018…

23. In December 2018, President Duterte promised to fight what he called “political terrorism” as he warned politicians against resorting to violence to keep their hold on power.

philstar.com/headlines/2018…

24. In January 2019, Duterte vowed to increase the pay of teachers, after his administration was criticized for allegedly red-tagging members of a teachers' group.

Until now, teachers have not received an increase in their pay.

philstar.com/headlines/2019…

25. In March 2019, the chief executive also vowed to fire corrupt officials.

But time and time again, Duterte has excused several government officials who have been accused of corruption.

philstar.com/headlines/2019…

26. In 2019, Duterte vowed to cut the travel time between Cubao and Makati from nearly an hour to 5 to 10 minutes by the end of the year.

It's already 2020, is the travel time between the two points only 5 to 10 minutes?

philstar.com/nation/2019/06…

27. In June 2019, Duterte promised to come up with a solution to NAIA flight delays within a month.

philstar.com/headlines/2019…

28. Duterte vowed to sign an executive order aimed at threshing out issues being raised by the LGBT community, while waiting for the SOGIE bill, which is still in Congress.

Has the issues of the LGBT community been addressed?

philstar.com/headlines/2019…

29. In December 2019, Malacañang described the Philippine labor market as “vibrant” and vowed to sustain efforts to improve the quality of the country’s labor force.

philstar.com/headlines/2019…

30. Back in February 2020, Duterte vowed for transparency on the cases COVID-19 in the Philippines as he called for an end to finger-pointing over the spread of the disease.

Do you think the government is being transparent on COVID-19 data?

philstar.com/headlines/2020…

With only a few hours left until President Rodrigo Duterte's #SONA2020, do you think that these promises have been fulfilled?