July-September 2020 · Kung gusto mo i-blowout na lang kita doon sa Pagbabago. If you want to take the plane with me in going back to Manila, I invite you para ma-blowout naman kita

July-September 2020

EDITORIAL BOARD

Managing Editor:Eileen Cruz-David

Copy Editor:Joan Tricia A. Alcantara

Writers / Researchers:Raiza F. Cabugwang

Monica N. Ladisla Ivy E. Atompag

Production Manager:Carolina S. Tongko

Associate Editors:Maria Criselda Vanessa R. Landig

Carolina S. TongkoArt Director:

Kevin Louie A. LaranangLayout Artists:

Jhon Enrel S. TanRaymond R. dela Rama

Circulation Manager:Arlene A. Barrientos

Editor-in-Chief:Ma. Florinda Princess E. Duque

Strengthening Economic Cooperation Among NationsAmid Threats of COVID-19Pandemic and Terrorism49

Reassuring the Filipino People of the Government’s Efforts inAddressing the COVID-19 Crisis

Boosting the Soldiers’ Morale and Assuring of Justice to the Fallen Men5Emphasizing Safety Measures in EducationAmid COVID-19 and Prioritizing Public’s Safety Through Classification of New Quarantine Guidelines

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Recognizing the Heroism of Fallen Soldiers andRenewing Government’sResolve to End Lawless Acts of Terrorism in Jolo, Sulu41

Maintaining Peaceand Upholding Justiceand Human Rights Amid the Global Health Crisis53PHOTO GALLERY63

Table ofContents

Boosting the Soldiers’ Moraleand Assuring of Justice

to the Fallen Men (Delivered at Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Headquarters, Jolo, Sulu, July 13, 2020)

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indly sit down. Maraming salamat.

There’s a prepared speech for this afternoon. Babasahin ko na lang para — kasi ito puro naman parang sa inyong mensahe. Dadagdagan ko na lang.

To our brave soldiers who are with us today, Ipersonally came here to thank you on behalf of the Filipino people for your undying service, especially during these trying times.

As we fight the COVID-19 pandemic, lawlesselements still take advantage to ravage across our land, disrupting public order.

Recently, it has been a difficult time for ourmen and women in uniform due to the escalating tension between the military and the terrorist groups. On top of this, we have the deaths of your fellow

soldiers where certain members of the Philippine National Police were involved.

As your Commander-in-Chief, I grieve for ourfallen men. I convey my deepest condolences to you for the death of your comrades.

I already tasked the National Bureau ofInvestigation to do justice by conducting an immediate and impartial investigation to ferret out the truth. [Nandito ba ang NBI? Is the NBI here?]

It is my hope that this isolated incident willnot spark any animosity between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PNP.

Alam mo, the imponderables of life, hinditalaga natin makita nor can we project the future of what things will happen or not happen. Gusto natin na ang mangyari araw-araw ay mangyari sakagustuhan natin.

Iyan ang gusto ng tao. But sometimes it canturn to something more than just what we ordinarily

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JULY-SEPTEMBER 2020JULY-SEPTEMBER 2020

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expect. Iyong mga bagay na hindi natin akalain na mangyari ay nangyayari. We don’t have the answer for that. We know that there is a certain hatred or anger there, or if there is none, then a misunderstanding that led to the shooting.

As your Commander-in-Chief and as Presidentof the Republic of the Philippines, I assure you that I will see to it that the truth will come out be it in favor of the police or the military. Ang hinihingi ko lang ang totoong nangyari.

So you can rest assured that justice will bedone to the family at sa mga tao dito sa — ang mga tropa dito sa Jolo.

Remember that our progress as a nation hasbeen for decades hindered by insurgency and terrorism. That is why you have my utmost respect as you risk your lives in the name of peace, security, and development efforts in our region.

Alam mo — Sakur, happy birthday. Timing ang lahat at [applause]… Kung gusto mo i-blowout na lang kita

doon sa Pagbabago. If you want to take the plane with me in going back to Manila, I invite you para ma-blowout naman kita.

You know, Sakur, alam ko na masakit rin saiyo. Alam ko hindi ko na tataguin ang puso ko. Alam ko na right or wrong basta may isang Tausug namatay, dumudugo rin ‘yung kasing-kasing mo kasi alam ko na ayaw mo pero ‘pag may nangyari, namatay, patay is patay at alam ko as a Tausug, maski na papa’no masakit sa iyo. Alam ko ‘yan.

Kaya ang magarantiya ko sa iyo na angtotoo lalabas at lalabas at lalabas in fairness to the Tausug, policemen, and to the soldiers who died. Kaya lang wala tayong option, e. Hindi natin ‘to puwedeng taguin, hindi natin puwedeng laruan ito kasi hindi maganda ang labas.

We would have a more serious trouble ifwe play with the people’s lives, mga buhay ng sundalo. So, tanggapin mo rin my condolences para sa

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nangyari. But ako dito since I work for the government siguro maintindihan mo rin balang araw.

May gusto akong sabihin sa inyo. It is notthat I am inordinately proud of it but that was actually a part of my campaign. Sinabi ko sa inyo noon kung nakinig kayo sa akin, I never really expected to win. Sa rating up to the last hour, hanggang four lang talaga ako. In the lineup of four candidates, four lang ako.

But I promised you something. Sabi kocorruption mahina ‘yan. Alam ko sinabi ko narinig ninyo ‘yan. Iyang Customs sinsilyo lang ‘yan, BIR sinsilyo ‘yan. Ang corruption na bilyon sa taas. Sinabi ko sa inyo ‘yan.

And I dare challenge anybody na sabihinnila I am lying. Sinabi ko ‘yan in my own language. Medyo pagkabastos pero sabi ko itong mga mayaman na ginagatasan ang gobyerno pati ang tao.

Without declaring martial law, sinira ko ‘yungmga tao na humahawak sa ekonomiya at umiipit at hindi nagbabayad.

They take advantage sa kanilang politicalpower. Ganoon ‘yan. Sakur, ganoon ‘yan. Every election noon o sa ngayon o bukas sabihin nila sa isang kuwarto lang ‘yan, “O, adre, sinong kandidato natin ngayon? O ikaw diyan, ikaw ang bahala sa ano, ha, you raise the funds.”

Lima ‘ata lang ang tao. Isang pamilya langang nag-uusap diyan. Ganu’n nilaro nila ang bayan ko. Kaya ako mamatay, mahulog ‘yung eroplano, p***** i**, I am very happy. Alam mo bakit? Sabi ko without declaring martial law, I dismantled the oligarchy that controlled the economy of the Filipino people.

Ganoon, Sakur, hindi kami. Nagpapakamataynga itong mga sundalo ko p***** i** para sa kanila just to prop up a government, ‘yung gobyerno ko, na useless naman kung nandiyan sila.

Kaya ako kung mag-decide kayo na tanggalinako, mas mabuti. P***** i**. Kasi ayaw kong maghawak ng gobyerno na wala akong magawa. May mga batas kasi.


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Pero ito two years ipitan ito. Ngayon, aftertwo years, ‘pag paalis ako wala pang nangyari, alis ako. At least nakita na ninyo, bahala na kayo. Bahala na kayo. Hindi ko na kontrolado iyan.

Ngayon ‘yung sinasabi nila na “si Dutertehindi statesman”, “masama ang bunganga nagmumura,” o totoo. P***** i**, totoo. Totoo kasi galit ako sa p***** i** ninyo. T*** i** kung anong pinaggagawa ninyo sa bayan ko.

Iyon ang gusto kong sabihin sa iyo, Sakurna… Alam ko ang Moro hindi talaga rin kuntento kasi ang Moro nauna dito sa Mindanao and the Christians came later. As a matter of fact, if you are not an Islam, you are a dayo kasi walang nitibong dito na Kristiyanos, puro Islam. Kaya naintindihan ko. Naintindihan ko rin ‘yung galit ninyo.

Gusto rin namin na magbago sana —magbago ang tingin namin sa inyo at maibigay sa inyo ‘yung mas magandang arrangement. Gusto ko na magbago ang arrangement paramapagbigyan kayo.

Ang mga p***** i** kasi dito magplano kang electric, may mag-apply kaagad, sila rin, walang ma…

Ako nga gusto ko mag-usap… Alam ko dahildiyan sa sakit ninyo. I know. I know how to be a revolutionary and how know — I know how cruel can it be. Alam ko kung anong mangyari sa… Parang aso ng…

Alam mo, sa totoo lang, every time na…Alam mo kung bakit binilhan ko ng .45 ‘yung mga sundalo ko, Sakur? Sinabi ko sa kanila, iyang .45 ninyo tatlong magazine ‘yan, it comes with three magazines. One is deployed, ang isa, dalawa dito. ‘Pag fight na ganu’n naubos, bunutin mo pa ‘yung isang magazine, wala ka nang M16. Pero ‘yung last magazine kainin mo, kainin mo para sa sarili mo because I would rather see my soldier dead than iharap sa video tapos gulgulin parang manok.

Sabi ko iyan, kasi ‘pag ako rin ang na-cornerganu’n rin ang gawain ko, kakainin ko ‘yung bala.

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Sabihin — hindi ito sabihin na tinatakot kita o ano. I am just sad kung bakit ganu’n patayin ang tao na gugulgulin pa sa harap na… Sa mga kapwa ko Muslim, sa kaunti-kaunti kong pagka-Muslim, hindi ako maligaya nang gan’un.

Tutal warrior tayo. If you are a warrior, aTausug warrior, or a soldier, or ano, isang bala lang. ‘Pag namatay na ‘yan, ‘yon. Pero ang style ng gulgol, it creates more hatred.

Alam mo ang una kong ano, magprangkaako ngayon pero huwag kang magalit. Salita lang ito kasi gusto kong makipagkaibigan sa lahat. Kalimutan ko na kung anong kasalanan nila. Mag-usaplang tayo.

Ang sabi ko sa mga sundalo na nakitako, ‘pag ganoon — ‘pag ganoon ang ginawa ng kasama ninyo bago kayo mag-alis, ‘yung lahat ng patay diyan na kalaban, bitawan mo isang magazine ang mukha ng M16. Isang — ubusin mo ‘yung magazine ng — isang magazine sa M16 para wala ka na ring makitang — puro buto na lang pati utak.

Ganoon ang sentimyento ko. So, pakisabilang sa kanila na… Hindi — hindi order ‘yan. Iyang sort of sa galit na kung ako sa inyo, ganoon ang gawain ko. Bago ako mag-alis, ubusin ko ang isang magazine sa mukha mo.

Iyan ang… Ako, may dala-dalang sentimyento,e. I feel for the Muslim. E, kakaunti, lola ko lang naman, e. Pero the fact that she’s a Moro, masasaktan ako na umabot tayo sa hantong na ganito. If wejust can be…

I am just asking, sabihin ko lang sa mgaMoro: Be a warrior. Period. Because ang Pilipinas cannot do ‘yung mga ginagawa nila as a… Sa taga-gobyerno, we are not allowed to do crazy things like that na sinabi ko na ubusan.

Pero kung ako siguro ang sundalo at kungmay nalaman akong sundalo na gumawa no’n, I would not — you know — I would not begrudge him kasi masakit talaga.


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So, the earlier, may dalawang taon pa tayoif we can… I’m going — I’m ready to open the borders.

I know that wala na masyadong barter tradekasi lahat ‘yung binibili ng mga Indonesians dito sa atin, nandiyan na sa kanila ngayon, e. E, noon wala silang manufacturing. But if there is a way which we can arrange another — maski big time coal tapos ‘yung safe passage lang ng mga sundalo ko na hindi sila ma-ambush sa — ma-hijack, okay na sa akin ‘yan. Mag-usap tayo. Marami diyan.

Alam mo, ang pinaka ano is coal. At maniwalaka, coal will be used for the next 30 years. Hindi ‘yung sabi nila na ano ‘yung sa — the — the sun. Wala ‘yan. Hindi, hindi… It cannot sustain as yet the technology cannot sustain it. Iilan lang, parang baterya, iilan lang ang makarga niyan. We have yet to invent a new one.

Maraming mas big time pa na negosyo. Ifwe can just, then they can participate in the… Tayo ang mag-usap. Kung yayaman ka diyan, mas maligaya ako. Kaibigan kita, e.

Iyong may — ‘yung kaibigan kong tumutulong,‘pag yumaman ka nang yumaman, mas maligaya ako. Tutal ako, happy na ako sa buhay ko. But I want you to get rich. But we have to talk because there is so much that we can do business.

Hindi naman sabihin ng mga Moro na api sila,wala na silang hanapbuhay na maganda. They can have a monopoly of the barge there. Hindi na kami — kaming gobyerno ng Pilipinas, hindi na kami magkarga. Ibuhos mo na lang dito.

Iyong transit niyan, I can concede it to you.But that would… I hope that would come within the next two years. Hanggang two years na lang ako, e. So, pero ang tingin ko kaya papunta dito tingin ako sa eroplano, “Ano bang sabihin ko sa kanila doon na in my own words?”

Sabi ko sa lamesa, sabi ko ang oligarchy ngPilipinas binuwal ko talaga. Iyan ang… Iyan ang sentimyento ko rin para malaman mo rin.

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So, it’s your birthday. I pray to Allah thatyou will be given a longer life, pursue peace in the Philippines, and uplift the lives of the Tausug and every Moro in Mindanao.

You have indeed accomplished so muchin fighting the Abu Sayyaf Group in recent years, and this led to significant strides towards crushing themfor good.

Let me assure you that as you fight to protectour nation, your needs and those of your families will be taken care of. The government will continue to implement policies and programs that willsecure your future.

Wala na ‘yang mga plaster cast, plastercast. If you are injured, lose a leg, do not worry. You will run faster. I’ll give you the titanium. It’s a matter of sacrifice ‘yung pag-training. After that, okay na ‘yan. You can fight again.

At alam mo, bale gusto ko lang — a warningalso to those who are administering it, be the military

or civilian. Ang AFP Center, may 50 million ‘yan; ang V. Luna, 50 million a month. Wala pa kasali ‘yung mga ano. Medisina lang ‘yan, ha? Medisina lang ‘yan para sa inyo-inyong pamilya. Dalhin ninyo doon. Hindi maubos ninyo ‘yan. ‘Pag magkasakit na ganoon, 50 — a month ‘yan. Noon, that’s a one-year supply for medicines ‘yan. Ako, a month. So, dapat malaman ng sundalo na mayroon kayong privilege na ganoon na hindi ko ibinigay ng iba.

Binili ko na lahat ang equipment na kailanganninyo, baric, I hope tapos na ‘yung building ninyo. I promise you ‘yung — ano itong tumutunog na sound? [Ano bang tawag diyan, Bong?] [Senator Go: MRI] MRI. P****** i**, matanda na talaga ako. MRI.

At saka ‘yung ano — ang karamihan diyanis… I’d like to send a — I have a friend who is the chief of the Cincinnati Orthopedic Hospital. It has somethingto do with bones. Ito si Eddie Boy Lim is from Davao. Iyong General Motors nandiyan sa V. Luna, kanila ‘yan. The guy is simply brilliant. Summa cum laude sa UP ‘yan. Ang kapatid niyang babae, summa cum


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laude rin. They are doctors. Eddie Boy is practicing in the United States. I hope that if he would come home, I’d like him to just be a consultant or actually work for the soldiers.

Mahusay itong taong ‘to. Talagang chief ngCincinnati Orthopedic Hospital. He is coming. He comes regularly. This time, I am try — I’ll try to talk to him and kung puwede ba. Being a Filipino once upon a time kasi nag-migrate na, naging Amerikano, if he can come back to do a little service before he retires para sa mga sundalo ko.

You have a crucial role to fulfill that relates toa cause higher than yourselves. I move forward with you as we advance the common good and promote the security of the nation.

With your continued support and commitment,I am confident that terrorists and all those who want to bring our nation down will have no placein our country.

So, I pray and I hope — and I hope and Ipray na something will come up. Kaya ako wala akong ano. I assure you kayong mga sundalo, there is never a transaction paper sa table ko. I do not allow — nandiyan si Delfin — your purchases of whatever, barko na — hindi dumadating ‘yan sa Malacañan. It starts and ends with him.

DTI gan’un, it starts and ends with the secretary.Ganu’n ang Tourism. Hindi ako humahawak ng pera kaya ako ‘pag bumira bibira talaga ako kasi wala kang makuha sa akin. Ang dala-dala ko lang ‘yung suweldo ko.

Kaya sabi ko sa anak ko, kay Inday, ano —sabi ko, “Day, p***** i** ‘wag mong pasukin ‘yang trabaho na ‘yan.” Puwera gaba lang, huwag naman sana masamain ninyo. Sabi ko, magtrabaho ka diyan? Wala kang makuha unless gusto mong mamera, a, kaya. Pero kung sabihin mo magtrabaho ka lang presidente? Susmaryosep.

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Suweldo mo 194,000. Ang ibang generals ditomas malaki pa sa suweldo ko, totoo lang. Sinabi ko kay Inday ‘wag kang mag-presidente unless you see something na kaya mo para gawain mo sa bayan. Pero if just a matter of ambition, lay off. Wala ka talagang makuha diyan, pagod lang. Magpunta ka doon sa bukid, kung ano-ano, kung saan-saan ka na lang because of service.

Pero kung sabihin mo na ano — kunghindi ka magnakaw, a, p***… Wala, pagod lang. Unless you are driven by patriotism. O, ‘yan, kung gusto mo talaga mag-service sa bayan mo, a, sabi ko — kaya sabi ko sa kanya in English they say, “If you cannot stand the heat in the kitchen, get out.” Sa politika ‘pag mainit ‘yan hindi mo kaya ‘yung ano.

Dito naman ang nagturo sa akin niyansi Delfin Lorenzana when I was still a mayor many, many years ago. Kumakain kami tapos may newspaper. Andiyan na naman, o. Sabi ni General Lorenzana, “Alam mo, Rod, ‘yang sa politika — sa politika, pildi ang maglagot.” Maglagot ka, masuya ka, talo ka.

Iyon ang ating pang-answer sa “If you cannot stand the heat in the kitchen, get out”. Dito sa Pilipinas ‘yan, maglagot ka, pildi ka.

So, I am very happy that I am with youtoday at nagkataon pa na birthday mo, Sakur. I hope we’d remain friends. Wala akong agenda na patayin ang mga Moro. Wala, kat — katarantaduhan ‘yan.

And I say you cannot do it, and why shouldyou do it? Mabuti’t na lang nandito ka, nakinig ka. At maligaya ako sa mga sundalo kong… Do not worry. I will stand by you. Sabi ko lahat ng kailangan ninyo para ma-normal kayo, ibibigay ko sa inyo. Walang bola. Lahat na nangyari sa mga kasama ninyo, they are now productive. Lahat sila may trabaho.

Iyang Defense Department, alam mo ‘yanparang a huge employment agency. Diyan ko sinasaksak lahat ‘yang marunong na mag-computer. Kung maalaala ninyo ‘yung sundalo na yumakap sa akin na umiiyak kasi bulag siya. Sabi ko huwag kang umiyak papaka…


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You know I’ll restore you to productivity.Tapos sabi ko bakit ka…? Tutal nakita mo na lahat. Nahipo mo na lahat. Ano pa bang gusto mo? E, trabaho. Ngayon, he’s an expert sa computer sa Aguinaldo. And I am happy.

So, I’m happy today that we had thistête-à-tête between just us. Hindi man ito pang… Kasi ayaw kong magyabang, e. Ayaw ko kasi magyabang kaya sabihin ko sa kanila huwag na ninyong bitawan ‘yan sa ibang ano — solohin na ninyo.

Maraming salamat po.

Emphasizing Safety Measuresin Education Amid COVID-19

and Prioritizing Public’s Safety Through Classification of New

Quarantine Guidelines(Delivered at Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang, Manila, July 15, 2020)

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON HARRY ROQUE: We have Dr. Edsel Maurice T. Salvana, National Institutes of Health University of the Philippines and consultant and member of the COVID-19 Technical Advisory Group; we have Dr. Marissa M. Alejandria, member COVID-19 TAG; we have Assistant Professor Ranjit Singh Rye, MPA Department of Political Science UP and Fellow, OCTA Research; we have, Mayor, Professor Fredegusto Guido P. David, PhD Institute of Mathematics UP and Fellow, OCTA Research; we have Professor Michael L. Tee, MD, MHPED, MBA UP College of Medicine Chair, Philippine One Health University Network; we have Dr. Troy Gepte.

And of course from the Cabinet, Mayor, we have Secretary Francisco Duque III, Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., Secretary Eduardo M. Año, Secretary Leonor M. Briones, Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Chairman Prospero E. De Vera, and we also have with us the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Christopher Lawrence T. Go. These are the attendees, Mayor.

CHED CHAIRPERSON PROSPERO DE VERA: In January, i-delay natin hanggang January at uutusan natin

‘yung mga universities na lahat nung subjects na may lab, OJT, internship et cetera, i-reschedule nila sa second semester.

So, sa first sem, ang ituturo lang lahat nung mga klase na regular na puwedeng lectures — theoretical doon sa first sem. I-mo-move natin sa second semester ‘yung kailangang pupunta.

So, the options will be from the more open limited face-to-face in low-risk MGCQ areas to the most conservative, do it in second semester.

Pero humihingi ho ako ng guidance ‘yung mga private schools in particular at saka local governments kasi hindi ho nila alam ang gagawin lalo sa mga area na wala talagang internet connection.

Mayroon na pong ilang eskuwelahan na nagsabi sa CHED na magsasara sila dahil ‘yung enrollment ho ay talagang bumaba. Natatakot ang mga magulang at estudyante, at mayroon na hong ilan na nag-report sa CHED. Ang problema ho wala kaming policy sa pagsara kasi itong COVID ay hindi pa nangyari sa matagal na panahon, so we are only crafting it.

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So, iyon ‘yung proposal, Mr. President, sa higher education.Thank you very much.

DEPED SECRETARY LEONOR BRIONES: Mr. President, ang pino-propose para sa ano, general education, sa basic education ay very similar to option one.

Kasi puwedeng mag-online, puwedeng mag-offline, puwedeng radio, puwedeng television, at kung wala talaga, if all of the above wala, ‘yung tinatawag nating IBM or It’s Better Manual. Kasi mag-di-distribute at the school level ng mga learning resources na i-di-distribute ng local governments sa mga bahay-bahay, sa mga bahay ng mga bata, at saka mag-re-recruit tayo ng tinatawag na parateachers kasi hindi naman lahat ng teachers — our parents kayang magturo.

So, in summary, ang hinihingi ng marami ngayon dumadami ay ‘yung tinatawag nilang limited na face-to-face.

Ngayon kung tingnan natin, Mr. President, sa ibang bansa sa Southeast Asia, halos lahat blended ‘yung

kanilang strategy pero ‘yung face-to-face nilakaunti lang.

Kagaya ng diniscribe (describe) ni Sec. Popoy na maliit na grupo lang talaga wino-workout ang curriculum. Ang curriculum namin halimbawa, Mr. President, sa basic education kailangan 15,000 na competences, hindi ka maka-graduate kung hindi mo master ‘yan. Pero ngayon, ni-reduce natin to 5,000 lamang.

At saka may — as early as this month, tine-train na natin ‘yung may mga school tayo para sa parents, may school para sa teachers, para makahanda sila kung anumang arrangement ang kalalabasan.

May kuryente, walang kuryente, may libro, walang libro, may transistor, walang transistor, may cellphone, ay mag-a-adjust ang eskwelahan basta lamang makapagpatuloy ang pag-aaral ng mga bata. So, very similar sa option one ang iniisip ng DepEd.

Now, going back to NCR and to Metro Manila, iyong sinabi ko nga kanina ang epekto talaga ng pagbulusok


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ng economy is sa mga — sa enrollment dahil kung ang parents walang mga trabaho, iyon naman ang asikasuhin nila, iyon ang tinitingnan.

So, pero ‘yung sa amin sa DepEd na-approve na ‘yan ng IATF. May pa lang, ‘yung programa aprubado na ng IATF ‘yon. Pero ‘yon ang hinaharapnamin na debate.

Tapos ‘yung school opening also isa din ‘yung area, hindi kami nagbabago sa aming stand, Mr. President, na maximum August 24 talaga kasi ‘yung sa batas last day of August. Last day of August is on a weekend.

So, August 24 magbubukas na ng klase whatever form it is. Pero hanggang — ngayon handang-handa na ang mga regions.

Sinubukan natin ‘yan sa Navotas, very successful ang simulation. Tapos mayroon ding maliit na eskwelehan kasi tinitingnan din natin ‘yung mga maliliit. Sa Siquijor, blended din ang approach nila. Mga bata binibigyan ng reading materials. Ang munisipyo naman nagbigay ng pera sa kanila para mabili nila ‘yung mga materials.

Kanya-kanyang diskarte, kanya-kanyang adjust depende kung anong available na paraan. Pero ang bottom line, patuloy ang pag-aaral ng mga bata, at malaki ang papel ng pag-recover ng economy sa patuloy na pag-aaral ng mga bata. Iyon angaming tingin.

PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE: [inaudible]

SEC. BRIONES: Yes. Actually, I have already — a report already but it might be — you may not have time. Oo, nandito pati ‘yung arguments for face-to-face or for non-face-to-face. Oo.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: [inaudible]

SEC. BRIONES: Yes.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: [inaudible]

SEC. BRIONES: Yes. Oo.

DOH SECRETARY FRANCISCO DUQUE III: Sang-ayon po ako kung puwede pong maaprubahan ninyo, Mr.

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President, dahil gagawin naman po nila sa tinatawag natin MGCQ low-risk.

Ang ibig pong sabihin nito number one, ‘yon pong case doubling time kung mayroon man kaso ‘yung lugar na ‘yon, ang pag-doble po ng kaso doon ay aabot more than 28 days po. So, matagal bago ho mag-doble, ibig sabihin kakaunti.

Pangalawa po naman, ‘yung kanilang kaso ay — actually, kung wala silang bagong kaso for the last 28 days, sir, four weeks, okay ho ‘yon.

At pangatlo ho, ‘yung kanilang mga critical care — ‘yung health systems capacity po nung lugar na ‘yon ay mababang-mababa po ‘yung ginagamit, ‘yon pong tinatawag nating critical care utilization rate, less than 30 percent.

So, all of this really favor ‘yon pong kanilang proposition kasi ‘yon pong binanggit nila na mga sampung estudyante sa isang classroom ay ito po’y naka-align

po sa ating tinatawag na mga physical distancing as part of the engineering controls.

So, ‘yon pong isang entrance, isang exit, maganda po ‘yang mga ‘yan. Iyong air-conditioning, kailangan nakataas ‘yung temperature to 26 degrees kasi alam po naman natin mas madaling kumalat kung nakasara ‘yung kuwarto, naka-aircon na mababa ang temperatura or malamig, ano.

So, okay po ‘yon, Mr. President. We strongly endorse it, Mr. President.

DR. TROY GEPTE: Mr. President, isa ko lang recommendation siguro for both the CHED and the DepEd, as much as mayroon tayo sa DILG na coordination at mayroon tayong body to look at all of these things, I think magkakaroon din tayo ng parang office or bureau I guess in the DepEd to ‘yung mangangasiwa po sa pagtingin dito sa kung mag-o-open up tayo unti-unti doon sa ating mga schools.

I’ll return it to Chairman Popoy.


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CHAIRPERSON DE VERA: Ito, Mr. President, ito po ‘yung ginawa nila sa Thailand sa classroom. Iyan, hindi lang nakahiwalay ‘yung mga desk, nilagyan ho ng plastic na takip ‘yung mga estudyante.

Puwede ho natin sa Pilipinas na mas malalayo pa diyan kung kailangan as much as more than one meter, if needed, depende ho doon sa disenyonu’ng eskwelahan.

Pero ‘yan ho ang ginamit nila. Pero ito, sa basic education sa Thailand po ito. Ito ‘yung — ito ‘yung kuwan… And then Secretary Galvez has filed the recommendations on this.

SEC. BRIONES: Actually, Mr. President, sa amin ang nag-a-approve nitong mga pag-hold ng classes, whatever, in whatever form ay ang regional director.

Kaya may structure na kami, may existing structure na kami na ang opisina ng regional director ang — mayroong division superintendent, maysup — may supervisor.

Alam ninyo, ‘yung sa panahon ng mother ninyo,ganu’n pa rin. So, alam na alam nila kung ano ang sitwasyon at the school level kaya madaling makahanap ng solusyon. So, ‘yung mga approval processes, mayroon ng structure for approval or for disapproval depending on the ano — terms.

Isang dagdag nga namin, Mr. President, sa amin sa basic education, kailangan mayroong water facilities. May tubig kasi hindi naman lahat ng lugar may tubig para — for the washing of hands.

Mayroon na kaming existing standards. May guidelines na kaming nagawa, nandoon na. At saka pwedenang tingnan ‘yung mga eskwelahan. Kaya namang ma-i-inspect para mapabilis ang desisyon. Ang hinihintay lang namin ‘yung affirmation ng policy na in-approve na dati ng IATF.

SEC. ROQUE: Mr. President, sa mga invited resource persons po natin mayroon pang dalawa na hindi pa po natin naririnig si Dr. Marissa M. Alejandria at saka si Professor Michael Tee po, ‘no. So, kung gusto po nilang magsalita.

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A, mukhang ayaw niyo na? Ayaw na. Okay. Pero si Professor Rye po is requesting kung pu-pwede lang siyang mag-react daw po doon sa mga options. Pero si Secretary po Galvez wants to…

PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER ON PEACE PROCESS AND NTF COVID-19 CHIEF IMPLEMENTER CARLITO GALVEZ, JR.: Sir — actually, Sir, in support of the ano, Sir — the CHED, may mga schools po, Sir na may mga kaya ‘yung ano — ‘yung mga may kaya ‘yung pamilya, ‘yung sinasabi nga namin — pinag-usapan namin na parang cohorting na sila naka dormitories.

I-che-check sila ng ano — ng PCR test. And then pagka na-test sila na negative, so, hindi muna sila aalis sa dormitory for a — for a period of time. Just in case aalis na sila sa dormitory, they will be tested again.

So, ‘yon palagay ko, Sir — pwede, Sir, ang ginawa natin katulad ng ginawa natin po sa sports, sa basketball na nagkaroon ng cohorting na bale po tinest (test) po natin lahat ng mga players.

Ganoon din ang pwede nating gawin po sa ano —sa mga schools, mga private schools, na pwede pong kung naka-ano sila sa dormitories, pwede po nating i-testing lahat po ‘yung estudyante and then they could stay there until such time that they’ll finish their ano.

Isa pong puwedeng pong ano ‘yan kasi talaga pong naniniwala po tayo na talagang importante po ‘yung edukasyon sa atin po. Hindi po natin talaga ma — matutumbasan ‘yung ano po ng education.

Secondly, Sir, pwede pong — tama po ‘yung sinasabi ninyo na dahan-dahan lang po muna tayo. Sa MGCQ, Sir, gawin po natin muna siguro iinspekin (inspect) natin ‘yung eskwelahan, ano ang configuration, anong puwedeng gawin at saka hindi pupuwedeng gawin.

Una, dapat wala pong playground. Kasi po pagka may playground, magkakaroon po ng tinatawag na close contact at saka mayroon po tayong tinatawag na ano — na possibility na magkaroon ng transmission because of ma-vi-violate po ‘yung social distancing.


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Secondly, ‘yung mga canteen na mayroong mga parang buffet na normally very vulnerable po tayo. Most vulnerable po tayo pagka po tayo ay kumakain kasi wala tayong mask.

And normally, napansin po namin sa aming contact tracing, ‘yung mga ospital, nagkakaroon po sila ng transmission pagka po nagda-dine-in po sila, naghahalo-halo sila ng pagkain.

At the same time, iyong mga ano po — ‘yung mga talagang pagka kumakain ‘yung mga workers, ‘yung ating mga vulnerable po iyon ‘yung tinatawag nating ano — ‘yung construction workers. Nagkakaroon po ng contamination because nagkukuwentuhan po habang kumakain. So ‘yung laway po tumatalsik. Doon po napupunta sa pagkain at saka nag-a-ano po ng pagkain.

So, ‘yon po ang nakita po namin na dapat bago ho tayo magbukas ng tinatawag natin na school na limited contact ang i-pursue natin, kailangan makita po natin ‘yung reengineering, kailangan po makita po natin ‘yung mga protections.

Thirdly, kailangan po ‘yung mga ibang mga dapat hindi gawin at saka dapat gawin, at saka ‘yung configurations po na “one way in” at saka “one way out” din po na hindi sila magkakasalubong parang ginagawa natin sa mall, gagawin natin po dapat ‘yon.

And then titingnan po tayo — magkaroon tayo ng isang model na school, inspekin po natin. And then lahat ng configuration, pwede po nating gawinpo ng ganu’n.

So, iyon po ang recommendation ko po, Mr. President, na if we will really decide na magkaroon tayo ng for example, 10 per classroom, tingnan po natin po iyong mga tinatawag nating mga strategies natin na kung magkakaroon po talaga na nakita natin na mga 96 percent walang transmission or even mga 100 percent na ma-ano natin, ma-ensure natin na magkakaroon po tayo ng redundant preventive measures para po hindi magkaroon po ng transmission.

Iyon lang po, Mr. President.

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PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ROQUE: Professor Rye po.

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR RANJIT SINGH RYE: Yes, Mr. President, unang-una, ika-clarify ko lang, teacher ko si Ma’am Briones at saka si Professor Popoy De Vera sa graduate school.

E, tama ho ‘yung punto nila. Mahirap i-compare ang Cebu Province. This is what I was expressing not just Cebu City and Talisay, but our study focused on the whole province. That being said, that’s why we provided two options kasi ho napaka-complicated ng NCR. It’s the heart blood. It’s the heart of our economy. We can’t just simply close it that’s whywe have two options.

That being said about the ECQ, it will work in NCR. It has worked before and it will work even better now under the revitalized leadership no, and strategies of DILG, DOH, and the team of Secretary Galvez. We know better now after three months.

But then again, we are not using this as option one. Option two lang ang MECQ. Option one is still GCQ

with of course the caveat that we will scale up testing, tracing, isolation, and treatment. And we’re doing that already.

And we feel the impact is it will take a little longer to control it but we will be able to control it. So, these are the options we present to the Cabinet. We want to thank you and the Cabinet for giving us our very small team in UP the opportunity to present our study.

And we commit as a team to continue to provide if we have avenues to e-mail your office, Secretary Duque, Secretary Harry, Secretary Galvez, and then Secretary Año advance copies of our projection.

We do this as part of our public service, Sir. So, wala hong bayad sa UP ‘to. Lagi-lagi para sa bayan. Ito iyong aming mantra sa UP. So, ito ho weekly namin ginagawa ‘yung report para lang information lang ba.

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ROQUE: Mr. President, since wala na pong magsasalita, i-a-anunsyo ko na po


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ngayon ang classification ng iba’t ibang mga rehiyon sa ating bansa.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: You have a more complete copy kaysa sa akin.

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ROQUE: Yes, Sir. Unang-una po, bago ko ianunsyo, mensahe lang po sa ating mga kababayan dito sa Metro Manila.

Nagkaroon po ng rekomendasyon ang UP na ibalik sa MECQ ang Metro Manila para mapabagal po ang pagkalat ng sakit.

Noong una po, sumang-ayon po ang ating Presidente. Pero nag-apela po ang ating Chief Implementer at ang ating Secretary of the Interior and Local Government dahil nangako po ang ating mga mayor sa Metro Manila na paiigtingin pa nila ang kanilang localized lockdown.

Palalakasin nila ‘yung kanilang testing, tracing, and treatment at ipatutupad nang mas malawakan ‘yung

mga restrictions sa GCQ. So, pumayag po ang ating Presidente na huwag munang ibalik ang Metro Manila sa MECQ sa susunod na dalawang linggo.

Pero malinaw po sa diskusyon na kapag hindi pa rin po napabagal ang pagkalat ng COVID sa Metro Manila, posible pong bumalik sa MECQ pagkatapos po nitong dalawang linggo.

So, hinihimok po natin ang ating mga kababayan dito sa Metro Manila, kinakailangan po ingat buhay para po sa ating hanapbuhay. So, mananatili po sa GCQ ang Metro Manila.

Pero ito po ay matapos nang napakahabang diskusyon kung saan binigyan po natin ng pagkakataon ang mga taga-Metro Manila na patunayan na kaya po nilang ingatan ang buhay para sa hanapbuhay.

So, ito po ang mga klasipikasyon. Iisa lang po ang nasa MECQ. Ibig sabihin po bagama’t bahagyang bukas, sarado pa rin po ang lugar na nasa MECQ except for ‘yung mga indispensable industries. Ang

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labas po ay para lamang sa mga necessities at para sa trabaho kung allowed na po ‘yung industriya ninyo na magtrabaho.

Bawal pa rin po ang public gathering, hanggang lima lang po ang public gathering at kinakailangan manatili po sa kanilang mga bahay maging homeliners. Ang kaisa-isang siyudad po na mananatili sa MECQ ay ang siyudad ng Cebu.

Ang mga lugar na sumusunod naman po ay mapapasailalim sa GCQ. Dito po, bagama’t bukas na ang ating ekonomiya, kinakailangan ang mga kabataan, ang mga matatanda, ang mayroong comorbidities o ‘yung mga may sakit, manatili pa rin sa kanilang mga tahanan.

Bukas po ang ating mga malls, bawal po magtambay diyan sa mga malls. At bagama’t mayroon na pong dine-in ngayon po 30 percent, ma-i-increase po ‘yan pagdating ng bente uno ng buwan na ito to50 percent.

Wala pa rin pong public gathering hanggang sampu katao pa lang, bagama’t pinayagan po ng IATF sa GCQ areas ang pagsamba hanggang 10 percent.

Ito po ang mga areas na mapapasailalim sa general community quarantine: Ang National Capital Region; ang Laguna; ang Cavite; ang Rizal; ang Lapu-Lapu City; ang Mandaue City; ang Ormoc City; ang Southern Leyte; ang Zamboanga City; ang Butuan City; ang Agusan del Norte; at ang Basilan.

Ang mga lugar naman pong susunod na babasahin ko ay napa — mapapasailalim sa modified general community quarantine — medium risk. Ang ibig sabihin po bagama’t mas magiging bukas ang ekonomiya, kinakailangan po na ang mga lokal na pamahalaan magpatupad pa rin ng localized orgranular lockdowns.

Kinakailangan magkaroon sila ng zoning. Kinakailangan magkaroon po ng strict enforcement ng mask, hugas ng kamay, at iwas or social distancing. At kinakailangan din po, bagama’t dapat tanggapin


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ang lahat ng mga overseas Filipinos at ang ating mga LSIs sa mga probinsya, kinakailangan i-quarantine po sila at bigyan ng PCR hangga’t maaari.

Ang malu — ang mga lugar po na mapapasailalim sa modified general community quarantine — medium risk ay: Sa CAR: ang probinsya ng Benguet at ang Baguio City; sa Region I: Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, La Union at Dagupan City; sa Region II: Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya; sa Region III: Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Tarlac, Zambales, at Angeles City; sa Region IV-A: Batangas, Quezon, Lucena City; sa Region IV-B: Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Puerto Princesa City; sa Region V: ang Albay, Masbate, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, at Naga City; sa Region VI: ang Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Capiz, Antique, Aklan, Guimaras, Iloilo City, at Bacolod City; sa Region VII po: Negros Oriental, Bohol, at ang Cebu Province; ang Region VIII: Western Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Tacloban City; Region IX: Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte; sa Misam — ang Region X: Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, Lanao del

Norte, Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City; ang Region XI: Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao de Oro, at Davao City; sa Region XII: Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato, South Cotabato, General Santos City; sa Region XIII: Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur; at BARMM — sa BARMM po: Lanao del Sur at Maguindanao.

Lahat po ng ibang lugar sa Pilipinas na hindi ko nabanggit ay nasa low-risk MGCQ. Pero bagama’t low-risk MGCQ po iyan, naka-quarantine pa rin po tayo, kinakailangan pagsusuot pa rin ng mask, paghuhugas ng kamay, at pag-o-observe ng social distancing. Kinakailangan ingatan pa rin po ang buhay para sa ating hanapbuhay.

Nakaligtaan ko lang pong banggitin na ang mga siyudad ng Talisay, Minglanilla, at Concepcion sa Cebu province ay mapapasailalim din po sa general community quarantine.

Nagpapaalala po tayo na gaya po ng sinabi ng UP ni Professor Ranjit Rye, bagama’t mayroon po tayong

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mga forecast na hanggang 80,000 ang magkaka-COVID sa ating bansa itong buwan ng Hulyo, tama po na himukin natin ang isa’t isa na sana gawin ang lahat ng hakbang para hindi po magkaroon ng katuparan ang 80,000 na COVID cases pagdating po ng July 31.

Iyon lang po, maraming salamat, Mr. President, at sa lahat po ng miyembro ng ating Gabinete na prisente ngayon at sa ating mga dalubhasa na nagbigay po ng kanilang mga expert opinion, magandang gabi po sa inyong lahat.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: To our guest and to everybody, maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.


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Reassuring the Filipino People of the Government’s Efforts in

Addressing the COVID-19 Crisis(Delivered at the Matina Enclaves in Davao City, August 17, 2020)

PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE: Let me just give you an overview of the government’s effort vis-à-vis the problem of COVID.

As I have stated, time and again, repeatedly, that the only salvation available to humankind at this time of our life is if you are stricken with a virus, the answer is always vaccine.

A vaccine is a cultured combination of your body and a weak virus maliit instead of in attacking 50 sila you are only given five, 10 maybe. I am not a medical person. Pero it will alert your body system ang iyong defense mechanism immune aatakihin niya ‘yan makilala niya. So, ‘pag makilala niya, ang katawan natin mag-produce over time ng anti-viral COVID. Iyon ang ano natin. Ibig sabihin sa ating katawan lang rin manggaling ang answer.

Actually, it is of no cost to anybody but for a reason that it is science and it has to be developed, there is a great expense involved.

I would like to thank Russia, President Putin, and China, President Xi Jinping, for offering to provide us with the vaccine as soon as it is possible for distribution to the public. I cannot overemphasize my debt of gratitude. But remember that this is not for free for after all they did not develop the vaccine without great expense and also the human effort involved.

Bibilhin natin ‘yan. Kaya lang kung mahal, if it is quite expensive then I will ask the — my friend President Putin and President Xi Jinping to give us a credit, parang utang, a credit line but we will pay not in one payment but by installments. Basta ang sinasabi ko magbayad tayo. Hindi ito libre.

At I would always tell them that we are willing and if we are short of money by this time because all of the economy of the world, individual countries, have fallen flat. Lahat ngayon nagkakaroon ng economic hemorrhage. It is uncontrollable because people cannot really work. They cannot be productive. And so you have a problem at hand.

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Sa Singapore ganu’n rin. Ang sabi ninyo na pumunta ako. Look, let me be very frank, if I want to go to Singapore, I will go to Singapore. If it is a private undertaking or if I want to attend the burial of a friend or to pay a visit sa wake, I will go there fly-in, fly-out. But alam mo kung gusto kong umalis, aalis ako. I do not have to keep it a secret because I will not be using any government funds. Hindi ko ugali ‘yan. And there has been no trip so far that I have undertaken outside of the Philippines using government funds. If at all I go out, it’s official, and it is just right that — wala naman akong perang pangbayad ng the entourage that goes with me.

Hindi ko itinatago. Bakit ko taguin? Hindi naman ako kagaya ng iba salbahis na maggamit ng pera ninyo. At bakit isikreto ko? I am under no obligation to travel in secret and not telling the Republic at all. I am a citizen of this country. The right to travel is guaranteed. Kung guaranteed sa inyo, e, di guaranteed ‘yan sa akin. And I do not have to hide it. I said I am not stupid to use government funds. Malalaman nang malalaman ng tao ‘yan.

So, stop this nonsense about me going to Singapore if at — I said, if at all. Kung gusto ko pumunta, pupunta ako. Wala kayong pakialam kung gusto kong pumunta. At I will not I said under no circumstances I have the obligation to keep it a secret. What for? Pwera na lang siguro kung magtanan ako. Pero ilang anak ko ang hahabol sa akin? Inday would lead the pack at ha-hunting-in ako niyan kung magtanan ako. Pero wala naman. Ayaw naman sa akin lahat. E, di wala na.

Pero in the future, ‘yung mga haka-haka noon pa ‘yan bago pa ako mag-Presidente, I enjoy what you citizens of this Republic enjoy. We have the right to travel. With more reason ako kay matagal na akong walang bakasyon. If I went somewhere else, well — or if I choose to go to Europe, pupunta ako sabihin ko… Then I would have to go on a leave of absence or maintain the control of government by electronic. Usually you leave the helm, ika nga, to the deputy or to the vice, deputy prime minister, or vice president.


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But I am not inclined to do that. Pero kung gusto ko, aalis ako. Let me repeat it: I have no obligation to keep it a secret. For what? But the only thing maybe is if I use your public money. I will never do that. Hindi ako istupido. Sana naman maunawaan ninyo abugado ako. That is anti-graft, pure and simple.

Makikita naman ‘yan sa mga voucher kung gagamitin mo ang pera ng gobyerno. But if it is a private undertaking I said, a private trip, you can go ahead. Just leave somebody to take care — it’s either usually Bingbong or si Guevarra. Or if not, if things are not quite good, then I’ll leave it in the hands of the military. Probably it would be the Secretary of Defense kung medyo topsy-turvy ang bayan and I have to leave.

But otherwise, ang isang leader would always stay where the crisis is. Hindi ka dapat maglagalag kung may problema ang bayan. Napakababa naman ang tingin ninyo sa akin kung ganu’n. Well, be that as it may, hindi po ako ganu’n just to disabuse your mind. Thank you for listening.

We go now into… I… I think the first things that we should do is to call on — because you have been the spokesman all along and making the announcement.

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON HARRY ROQUE: Yes, Sir.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: I’m referring to Secretary Roque. Anong classification? And what are the things that are allowed in a modified and what are the things that are allowed iyong wala na? Iyong talagang all the rest of the Philippines. Ang gustong malaman ng tao anong category na tayo at ano ang magawa namin at ano ang hindi namin magawa? I’d like to ask Secretary Roque to…

SEC. ROQUE: Magandang umaga, Mayor. A, magandang gabi pala po, Mayor, at magandang gabi, Pilipinas, no. Ang naging rekomendasyon po ng inyong IATF, naanunsyo ko na po ‘yung mga classification ng mga iba’t ibang lugar sa Pilipinas maliban po sa NCR, sa Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna,at Rizal.

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Itong mga areas pong ito ay nasa modified ECQ. Ang rekomendasyon po ay ilagay na ang NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal sa GCQ or generalcommunity quarantine.

Ito po ay mas maluwag, mas marami pong industriyang bukas, pupuwede po ang dine-in sa mga restaurants, pupuwede po na magkaroon ng religious services pero hanggang 30 percent lang po.

Halos lahat po ng industriya ay magbubukas bukod na lang po doon sa maraming nagtitipon-tipon, ‘yung mga entertainment, at ‘yung mga amusement para po sa bata, no. Pero itong desisyon po ay mayroon pong mga kondisyon din na isinama ang inyong IATF lalung-lalo na po sa Metro Manila, no.

At ito nga po ay kinakailangan buksan po natin ang ekonomiya sabay po ‘yung tinatawag nating refresh — iyong i-re-refresh po natin ‘yung mga responses natin sa COVID. Kasama na nga po diyan ‘yung mas maigting na testing at nagsisimula na po ‘yung pilot natin para sa pooled testing kung saan ma-i-expand

po natin o mas marami po puwedeng ma-test saisang test kit.

Magkakaroon po tayo ng ‘yung house-to-house na paghahanap po sa mga symptomatics na nagkaroon po tayo ng pilot nung dalawang linggo po na tayo po ay naka-MECQ. Ang tawag po natin ‘yung Project CODE. Itutuloy pa rin po natin ‘yan.

I-i-swab po natin ‘yung mga mayroong sintomas at ihihiwalay po natin ‘yung mga positibo. Gagamitin po natin ‘yung mas malawakang tracing na itinuro sa atin ni Mayor Magalong, 1:15 po ang magiging tracing natin. At siyempre po gumagawa po tayo ng mas marami pang mga facilities para mas marami po ‘yung mga hospital natin at kakayahan na gamutin ang magkakasakit ng COVID.

Ikinagagalak ko pong sabihin sa inyo, Mayor, na ngayon po nag-inaugurate tayo ng 250 exclusive COVID beds diyan po sa East Avenue Medical Center, no. At dahil po rito naibsan po ‘yung tinatawag nating


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critical care capacity, no, dahil mas marami na po tayong kama ngayon.

At ‘yung sinimulan po ni Usec. Bong Vega na One Hospital Command Center ay gumagana na rin po kung saan nagkakaroon tayo ng referral kung saan pupuwede po pumunta ang ating mga kababayan.

So, pinagsamantalahan po natin, ginamit po natin ‘yung dalawang linggo na MECQ para po pag-isipan kung paano tayo mag-re-reboot, kung paano mag-re-refresh ng approach at ito nga po ang gagawin natin habang nagbubukas tayo ng ekonomiya, mas maigting na mga pamamaraan para mapalakas po ang testing, tracing, isolation, and treatment.

At siyempre po ang palaging pagpapaalala sa lahat: kinakailangan magsuot ng maskara, kinakailangan po mag-social distancing, kinakailangan po ang paghuhugas ng kamay at, face shields kung papasok po sa trabaho at sasakay sa pampublikongmga sasakyan.

Maraming salamat, Mr. Mayor.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: So, napalawak. Ulitin ko lang, ha. Baka hindi… Ang general community quarantine: NCR; Bulacan; Cavite; Laguna; Rizal; Nueva Ecija; Batangas; Quezon; Iloilo City; Cebu City; Lapu Lapu City; Mandaue City; Talisay City; and the Municipalities of Minglanilla; Consolacion.

Ang — for the rest of the Philippines, modified general community quarantine.

So, you just, I said, just be careful. Follow the safeguards. Itong nakalimutan ko. We want to ensure the safety of our people you know. However, some sectors in our economy, especially the MSMEs, are barely surviving. Iyong maliliit na negosyo lang, katamtaman.

So, katamtaman, ibig sabihin, I don’t know if it’s the right word, na pabalik lang sa negosyo may kaunting pera, barely surviving, ika nga. Parang kakalabas lang sa tubig hanggang ilong.

Let me clarify, ang RT-PCR. Repeat, RT. T. RT-PCR, or antibody-based tests is not recommended or required

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for asymptomatic employees returning to work. Hindi kailangan. However, mayroong ano nito caveat, may warning — however, the following priority workers in the sectors may undergo — may undergo. Pero akin ay ano na lang. Ang hospital pati sa tourism sectors, isa ‘yan. Manufacturing companies and public service providers in economic zones located within Special Concern Areas and those of highest COVID-19 cases.

Dalawa ito, hindi nila hinati. Ang una, ‘yung service providers ng mga special kagaya ng Clark, Subic, and special place where the workers are exposed to COVID-19 na they are required because also of the product. The integrity of the product is assured that it is COVID-free or at least sanitized, nalinis, nahugasan.

Pangatlo is the frontline and economic priority worker. Workers in high-priority sectors in public and private. Hindi ko maintindihan itong high-priority kung sino. Tayo? O… Ako, unahin muna natin ‘yung tao.

Mawala tayo, nandiyan pa ang Pilipinas. Pero mawala ang tao, wala na ang Pilipinas. So, unahin natin ‘yung

tao. Have high interaction with exposure in public. Ito ‘yung ano — those who live or work in SpecialConcern Areas.

It could be a private or public establishment or area. But the employers, ‘yung mga amo, are highly encouraged to send their employees for testing at no cost to the employees.

Now, before I end, kayong mga Pilipino everyday, everyday you see drug cases either busted, arrested, killed, at running into millions ang amount. Makita ninyo sa inyong television.

Napakatorpe naman nitong human rights ‘pag hindi kayo nag-ano. Ano ang ano ninyo? Magbilang lang ng patay? E, p***** i**, ‘di maglipat kayo ng trabaho, huwag sa human rights. Punerarya kung ‘yan lang man ang trabaho ninyo.

What about the social problem?


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The serious and grave problems of drug addiction in this country. What are you doing about it? At least mayroon kayong — you know, your advocacy. It does not begin and end in the life of a criminal. Naloko ba kayo? It should be something like you would also do a campaign all around the Philippines warning the citizens about being killed, about being slaughtered if they do drugs. Iyan ang tama magawa ninyo.

Then if they are killed despite or in spite of your educating them, then you can always investigate and file cases. Pero itong mga durugista — and most of them are really not from the Philippines — I cannot say — hindi ko ma-pinpoint. Sometimes it comes from China, Malaysia. Sometimes dito ginawa, minsan sa…

Basta ang akin, a shabu is a shabu is a shabu. I do not… Hindi ako nag-ano kung saan galing. It’s a crime in Malaysia, lalo na sa China it’s a death penalty. Malaysia it’s a death penalty. Indonesia metes out a death penalty. Tayo lang ang Pilipinas maarte. Kung ano lang talaga…

Come to think of it, if it’s really effective, if prayers do, if the shouting inside the church, the pulpit, everywhere, kung nakakatulong, bakit po hanggang ngayon nagbabaha ng droga? At ano ang gawain natin doon sa namatay? Iyong mga bata na tinusok ng kahoy galing puwet hanggang bunganga? Iyan ang ano. Mas gusto ninyo ‘yan kaysa itong mgaanimal na ito?

Now, ang sabi mo pinapatay ko? Sinabi ko, “If you destroy my country, I will kill you.” I never said, “If you destroy my country, I will order the military or the police to kill you.” You must be you know — don’timpose a lie.

Sabi ko I will kill you if you destroy my country and I will really do it. Malas mo lang kung ma-timing-an. Kung nandiyan ako, sabihin ko sa mga pulis, “Umalis kayo diyan. Hayaan mo ako dito sa p***** i**** ‘to.” I will — I will… I will do it. Have I done it? How many times? A, secret. Bakit ko sabihin sa inyo ‘yan?

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So, I’m just warning that drug really destroys the spirit ofa nation kasi ang biktima ninyo gunggong na, e. Wala na talagang pag-asa, of no use to society anymore. And you destroy the dreams of parents na makita nila anak nila nakatapos, that someday mag-asawa, mag-anak, that they can see their grandchildren. You destroy that dream.

So, ako, I mean to keep that dream true. Kaya kayong ano, bantay kayo. Mamili kayo: China Sea? Manila Bay? Tapos atake nang atake na ang sabi ko raw ano… “Duterte…” Nagsasabi pa akong Manila Bay at China Sea. P***** i** ninyo kay anong ginawa ninyo? Anong ginawa ninyo para sa bayan ninyo? Protecting criminals? Paying homage to the Caucasians of Europe? Itong mga puti na ito? Bakit magkano ba ang dollar na tinatanggap ninyo? Huwag niyo sabihin mas Pilipino pa kayo ngayon. And you enjoy prosecuting people who are doing their jobs? Ako ang takutin ninyo. F*** you.

Gawain ko ang gusto ko para sa bayan ko. That’s it. Walang — kung walang ano, kung ganon, walang istorya. Umiwas ka sa droga, magtanim ka sa bukid. Diyan sa palengke maraming negosyo diyan. Huwag kang magpabili ng droga. May pera diyan, malaking pera diyan, pero ‘pag magkamali ka, buhay mo talaga ang iiwan mo.

So, I have said my piece for the night. I am thanking all our guests, Secretary Lorenzana, Galvez, Secretary Duque, Secretary Roque, Secretary Wendel, Senator Bong. Ito ‘yung naghihintay ng issue and he will be the one to do the… Alam niya may trabaho siya sa Senate. He can always use the forum sa Senate to expose wrongdoings and expose criminality.



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Recognizing the Heroism ofFallen Soldiers and Renewing

Government’s Resolveto End Lawless Acts

of Terrorism in Jolo, Sulu(Delivered at the Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista

Headquarters, Jolo, Sulu, August 31, 2020)

have a two-page speech prepared by the staff. But I shall read it and after that, I will

just add my own statements to reflect my sentiment of the moment.

To our troops, I stand in solidarity with you aswe honor the memory of your comrades, my soldiers, who gave their lives in the name of peace here in Sulu. The recent bombings that took the lives of several civilians including those of your fellow soldiers will only further strengthen our resolve to crush the lawless elements behind this cowardly act.

For decades, Mindanao’s progress has beenhindered by the threat of insurgency and extremism. Kung wala lang ho sana itong the seed of hatred na nakalagay sa isip from generation to generation, sana ngayon maganda na ang buhay para sa lahat.

This unfortunate incident is only one ofthe countless incidents that proved that we

should never be complacent when it comes to terrorism. Lagi ninyong tandaan na ang kaligtasan ng ating mamamayan at mga komunidad anginyong prayoridad.

Right now, our entire nation is dealing withthe global health crisis, yet enemies of the state will still find the energy to perpetuate the acts of violenceand terrorism.

Now, more than ever, our nation needsour Armed Forces to ensure that these terrorists will never succeed in their pointless goals. By choosing to fight for your country here in Sulu, you honor the ultimate sacrifice of your fellow soldiers and the countless others who fought before you.

I know that the ongoing pandemic has notonly made your responsibilities even more complicated, [but also has brought] more hardships. Yet in the spirit of selflessness, you remain strong in your mission for the Filipino people. Because of this, I am humbled by your commitment, inspired by your patriotism, and grateful for your continued support.

I

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Bilang isang Pilipino, ibibigay ko sa inyo anglahat ng suporta na kailangan ninyo para matupad ang inyong misyon dito sa Jolo. I commit myself to work with you, my dear troops, to ensure that these terrorists will have no future in this country.

You know, Sakur, it is not the fault of thenative Filipinos tayo. We never had any religion before until the evangelists of religions came over. Wala ho tayong away noon at maniwala kayo’t hindi, itong Bisaya pati Tausug kung pakinggan mo lang mabuti magkakaintindihan tayo.

What I’m trying to say is that the irony ofit all is that Lapu-Lapu was a spin-off of the tribe of the Tausugs who settled in Cebu is the same Lapu-Lapu who I honor, and I bestowed upon him the prestige of being a national hero. It was not untilafter I was President.

You know, in the past, sinasabi lang nilaLapu-Lapu pampritong isda lang ‘yan, inun-unan. But he was the first Filipino to resist the invader. Siya ‘yung

unang nakipagbakbakan and to think that he was a descendant of the Tausugs who settled earlier in the Visayan hemisphere. The other tribe is the Hiligaynon, which are the Ilonggos now.

And yet, I am giving awards in his name tosoldiers of the Republic of the Philippines to which the Filipino people have agreed to form. Iyan ang — I was holding the Qur’an and the Bible kanina sandali. In both holy books, there’s only one God. It’s your Allah. It’s God the Father for the Christians. Pareho lang, and yet, in thy name, because of certain extremist, ‘yung unang pumasok nagalit doon sa mga Pilipino sa southern part which is now Mindanao at ‘yung mga Moro ‘yung nagkaisa against the Spaniards.

We never had any quarrels. We never tookslaves of any tribe. Tayong lahat magkakaibigan. We were just trading with each other and yet when the Spaniards came, ang problema nagdala ng relihiyon. Well, of course, also for the Islam, but ang Islam for evangelization lang. The Spaniards conquered what


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is now the Philippines because we chose to name it after King Philip who sponsored this expedition to this part of the world.

Ang ibinibigay kong award in the nameof a Tausug for my soldiers who have fought the insurgents now. Kung hindi lang sabihin mo na ang pinapag-usapan natin dito ay ang Diyos, nakakatawa, e, because you can just imagine ang medalyang ibinibigay ko, Lapu-Lapu, and he was one — he was the first defender of aggression by the Spaniards into this country.

Time and again, panahon pa ni Quirino,Kamlon and I could still remember my father who was a member of the Cabinet of Mr. Marcos. I heard him tell stories about why he cannot — because he can understand matagal dito sa amin. He could not speak it fluently, but he could understand Visayan. And it was my father who told me, “You just listen carefully. The Tausug dialect is similar to the Visayan language.”

So, iyan ang hindi ko maka — hindi koma — I cannot divine. I cannot fathom — hindi ko

maabot kung paano ito diskartehin. Time and again, peace process, mag-usap tayo, then here comes Al Qaeda na walang ginawa na kung pumatay ka ng tao, que inosente man o hindi, que Moro man o Kristiyanos, ‘pag paputukin ka, putok kayong lahat.

That’s why when I visited the blast — and thankyou for sharing with me the gesture — lumuhod ako, hinalikan ko ‘yung — at least semento to where my soldiers and the countless and the num — at saka ‘yung mga Tausug na walang ka — their lives snuffed out for no reason at all.

May dalawang taon pa ako, ewan ko kungano ang magawa ko talaga. But you know when you go into a fight, may galit na ‘yan. Mahirap ito aregluhin, kasi lahat may sugat na sa puso. And it would take more than a generation to do this.

I hope that anyone of my children wouldbecome a politician maski barangay captain lang [so] that he’d be able also to do something about this problem of the Moro and the Christians.

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Walang kasalanan kaya ako lumuhod, hinalikanko ‘yung lupa, kasi hindi man lang nakapagtawag ‘yung “Allah, I commit my…” o nakapag-sign of the cross before dying.

Well, of course, it’s so that in the tat — Bible,it says Allah is all-knowing, and He is everything, and He controls the lives of people and the workings of the universe. In the same manner, ganoon rin ang Bibliya ng mga Kristiyano. It says that for everything under the sun, there is a season. There is a season to plant, and a time to harvest. There is a time to build, and a time to destroy. There is a time for sadness, but there is a time for joy. There is a time that we do not talk to each other, but there will always be a time na mag-usap sa ayaw mo’t sa hindi, dadating ‘yan because itis Allah’s will.

If Allah says that it’s about time that we stop the carnage of killing each other, then He will find a reason for the Moro, Christians, and the other tribes professing the Christian faith. We will have the time. As there is a time for war, and there is a time for peace.

Kailan ‘yan? Well, I don’t know. Because there is a time to live and there is a time to die.

Ikaw ‘yung — I address you because ikaw ‘yung nirerespeto ko. You have a color — colorful life. Kung sa patay, dapat patay ka na sa dinaanan mo sa buhay, and yet you are still here around. Why don’t you try to help me within the next few months [of my] last term just to talk about peace? It need not really be a — an arrangement, just talk about peace.

Mahirap kasi because ang bomba, hindi kasinamimili, e. Iyan ang problema. At kung ang pinatay mo inosente, there will always be a time that you will have to answer for the killing of an innocent human being maski anong klaseng relihiyon.

Allah says about revenge; Allah says about —you know — the giving, the taking of life, and Allah says that there is also a time to answer for allof these things.

So, I will end my speech with an appeal thatif we cannot really agree, then we fight, and we fight


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hard hanggang magkaubusan na. Maybe by that time, kung ubos na ang lahat, wala nang giyera.

Sa pagka ngayon, hindi ko mapigil ang mgasundalo ko kasi may mission sila and the mission is to crush the insurgents. And the insurgents, ang mission nila is for the greater glory of Allah.

Wala man tayong problema. We honor Allah,we pray to Allah. Ako pa pakabigat because of my mix — sa ascendancy. Same, I’ve always been answered with a lot of blessings from Allah.

So, ang hinihingi ko lang sa inyo na evenas you fight, think about peace. Because if I will say to you that this is 2020, 2021, aalis na ako. Ang ibig mong sabihin 2023, 2024, 2025, hanggang 2050 ganoon pa rin? Hindi na lang sa relihiyon na ipagpa — magpakamatay ka. It’s about your generation.

How about the flowering of the Moro? Na kagaya ng ibang lugar, Dubai? When will the Moro Filipino ever taste all these luxuries? But only when the

leader also, be he a Muslim or a Christian, shall govern according to the will of Allah, of God. Iyan lang.

In the meantime, we fight. And sa pagkangayon, sabi ko I cannot — I cannot offer anything because I also have my mandate. I have no — I do not only order, I impose duties na gawin ninyo ito. But if in God’s time, maybe — kailan ‘yon? — we will have the time to talk, and to ponder about peace at ‘yung mga anak ninyo.

Biruin mo naman palakihin mo, hindi monga padapuan ng lamok, but only to die walking there on the streets kasama mo. And you know, ‘yung give and take na vengeance, if it is hatred, it cannot be stopped anymore — hardly.

So, it is [an] impossible dream. It is anunreachable star. But it behooves upon us, tayong mga leader, even to try and even to talk aswe wage war.

Ako, I do not find anything reprehensible intalking to my enemy across the table and at the same

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time ordering my soldiers to fight. That’s the only way for us to move forward at this time. But I hope — I hope that Allah will someday give the light to the minds of everybody.



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Strengthening Economic Cooperation Among Nations

Amid Threats of COVID-19 Pandemic and Terrorism

(Delivered during the Aqaba Process Virtual Meetingon COVID-19 Response, September 2, 2020)

is Majesty King Abdullah II, Excellencies, good afternoon.

We face the greatest challenge of ourtime — one that is truly global in reach and unprecedented in consequences.

No country — big or small, rich or poor —has been spared by the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time, all of humanity fear the exact same invisible menace. Not even the Second World War had this most sweeping effect.

Our urgent common response was toclose down borders and impose limits to mobility and trade. The repercussions, as we are seeing now, are grim and far-reaching. We have economies in recession, institutions in crisis, and societies in a state of uncertainty.

HAs insecurity rises, the fear of the “other”

and the “unknown” heightens. This brings out man’s darkest tendencies to look inward and do it alone.

But the path to recovery requires moreopenness, deeper solidarity, and stronger cooperation among nations.

I thank His Majesty King Abdullah II for thistimely Aqaba Process meeting. With this initiative, Jordan chooses partnership over self-defeating isolation. And so do all of us joining today.

Excellencies, even as we are navigatingourselves out of this pandemic, the Philippines continues to confront security threats.

Indeed, COVID-19 has not quarantined terrorists.

Local terrorist groups, such as the AbuSayyaf, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and the New People’s Army of the Communist Party of the Philippines have been emboldened. They exploit the situation to serve their nefarious activities.

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But let us be clear about this: Religion hasnothing to do with terrorism.

All faiths — Islam included — teach us tolove not hate; to build peace not destroy; and to celebrate our common humanity and not trample on it with senseless and ruthless violence.

Now, more than ever, our resolve isstronger: We will not let up in our fight against terrorism. And we will not allow COVID-19 to bring our people to their knees.

Admittedly, we face monumental challengesunder present circumstances.

The path before us is clear: We willenhance cooperation with ASEAN, the United Nations, and other international partners, like Jordan.

I take this opportunity to express mysincerest gratitude to His Majesty for the generous assistance that will help us enhance our Air

Force’s capacity to combat security threats,including terrorism.

Narrowing deep-seated inequalities waschallenging in times of economic growth. It is more so now when the global economy, ours included, has slumped. Resources are shrinking, while inequitiesare worsening.

Reviving the economy is, therefore, vital.

Economic self-sufficiency may seem alogical response to the supply chain disruption we saw at the start of the pandemic. It may sound rational to those who perceive themselves to be on the losing end of globalization. But economic independence is not the answer. It is a mirage. It seems like a real solution, but it is in fact, an impossible proposition.

The key to shared prosperity is the freemovement of goods, capital, and services, complemented with appropriate social safety nets. This is why we, in ASEAN, are drawing up a comprehensive


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recovery plan anchored on strengthening economic cooperation and supply chain connectivity.

We will build on existing platforms toensure unimpeded trade in the region. We will work toward more regulatory coherence to promote ASEAN as an investment and trade hub. We will expand the digital economy to boost growth and create employment. And we will harness technology to allow businesses — especially MSMEs — access to regional and global supply chains.

More than 80% of global trade is carriedout by the shipping industry. With almost every other vessel plying the world’s oceans and seas manned by Filipino seafarers, the Philippines plays a key role.

My government worked with the International Maritime Organization on the issuance of a “green lanes” circular, which provides for safe crew changes during the pandemic. This is our concrete contribution to ensuring that the global trade of raw materials and goods flows uninterrupted.

Excellencies, the COVID-19 pandemiccompels us to break with the past. Insisting on the old ways that have perpetuated inequalities within and between nations is simply untenable.

Let us seize this historic opportunity to builda new order: one that is more secure, just, and humane — where there is no room for the barbarity of terrorists and extremist forces.

And one that is fair, equal, and sustainable— where progress and prosperity are enjoyed by all.

Let us, therefore, honor those who havefallen to the invisible enemy that is the pandemic and the scourge of terrorism. Let us commit ourselves to enduring partnership and cooperation. For indeed, together, we shall prevail.

Thank you.

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Maintaining Peace and Upholding Justice and Human Rights

Amid the Global Health Crisis(Delivered via videoconference during the General Debate

of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly,General Assembly Hall, New York, September 22, 2020)

r. President of the United Nations General Assembly; Mr. Secretary-General; Heads of

state and government; Excellencies:

I am honored to address you today on behalfof the Filipino people on the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.

The invisible enemy that is COVID-19 hasbrought about an unfamiliar global landscape and has unleashed a crisis without precedent. It is the biggest test the world and the United Nations faced since World War II.

While the United Nations has brought reliefand hope to many countries and peoples around the world, it now finds itself saddled by a virus that has taken many lives and wrecked economiesand social order.

MWe are at a crossroad. How we address

COVID-19 will define our future.

For the Philippines, this means putting up allof the peoples of our united nations at the core ofthis response.

We will need to ask hard and fundamentalquestions about the vision and mission that the United Nations conceptualized 75 years ago.

We need to ask ourselves whether or notwe have remained true and faithful to the United Nations’ principles and ideals.

Mr. President, in light of the realities of thepresent, the Philippines grieves with all of the families all over the world who lost their loved ones to this horrible virus.

We extend our heartfelt condolences.

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We salute all frontliners who put their lives onthe line even in countries not of their own. Also, we do honor and recognize the healthcare professionals who selflessly answered the call to combat the COVID-19 pandemic despite its virulence andunknown characteristics.

While each nation has its own strategy infighting the pandemic, what the world needs are coordinated international plans and efforts to pursue a common purpose.

COVID-19 knows no border. It knows nonationality. It knows no race. It knows no gender. It knows no age. It knows no creed.

The Philippines values the role that theUnited Nations plays in its fight against the pandemic. As a middle-income country whose economic advances have been derailed by the pandemic, we welcome the launch of the UN COVID Response and Recovery Fund.

Ensuring universal access to anti-COVID-19 technologies and products is pivotal in the global pandemic recovery.

The world is in the race to find a safe andeffective vaccine.

When the world finds that vaccine, access toit must not be denied nor withheld. It should be made available to all, rich and poor nations alike, as a matter of policy.

The Philippines joins our partners in the ASEANand the Non-Aligned Movement in raising our collective voice: the COVID-19 vaccine must be considered a global public good. Let us be clear on this.

We call for a global health agenda withenough resources and policy space for the World Health Organization.

We need a WHO that is quick to coordinateand quicker to respond. The Philippines will do its part


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in the pooling of global resources. Our health workers are among the best.

Mr. President, just as we needed stability and confidence because of the pandemic, geopolitical tensions continue to rise.

Escalating tensions benefit no one. Newflashpoints heighten fears and tend to tearpeoples apart.

When elephants fight, it is the grass that getstrampled flat.

Given the size and military might of thecontenders, we can only imagine and be aghast at the terrible toll on human life and property that shall be inflicted if the “word war” deteriorates into a real war of nuclear weapons and missiles.

I, therefore, call on the stakeholders in theSouth China Sea, the Korean Peninsula, the Middle East and Africa: if we cannot be friends as yet,

then in God’s name, let us not hate each other too much. I heard it once said, and I say it to myself incomplete agreement.

Mr. President, Filipino migrant workers havebeen devastated by the pandemic. Many have lost not only their livelihood, but also their health and lives as well. Yet, they go on in the frontlines, healing, caring for others in the different parts of the world.

The Philippine Government has embarked on an unprecedented repatriation program. More than 345,000 overseas Filipino workers needed to come home then. We have brought back half and are bringing back the rest.

We thank the countries that have providedFilipino migrants with residence permits, access to testing, treatment, and health-related servicesin this pandemic.

We brought back most of our seafarers whowere stranded because of COVID-19 restrictions.

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We pioneered with the IMO the Green Lane for safe changes of seafaring crews.

In these times, we need stronger cooperationin promoting and protecting the rights of migrants, regardless of their migrant status.

We must all adhere to the Global Compactfor Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. Unless states include all migrants in their response to this pandemic, “no one among us is safe, until everyone is safe” as the Secretary-General has said.

With the poverty rate reduced at 16.6 percentand a sustained economic growth rate of 6.4 percent between 2010 and 2019, the Philippines was on track to becoming an upper-middle income country by the end of 2020. But the pandemic has placed our economy in recession.

Despite this downward pressure on growth,the Philippines remains committed to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Mr. President, the same urgency neededto fight COVID-19 is needed to address the climate crisis. This is a global challenge that has worsened existing inequalities and vulnerabilities from within and between nations.

Climate change has worsened the ravagesof the pandemic.

People in developing countries like thePhilippines suffer the most. We cannot afford tosuffer more.

The Philippines joined the Paris Agreementto fight climate change. We call on all parties, especially those who have not made good their commitment to fight climate change, to honor the same.

We call on all parties to strengthencommunities and peoples for preparedness and resilience. We are talking about mankind and Earth, our one and only home.


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Mr. President, the Philippines will continueto protect the human rights of its people, especially from the scourge of illegal drugs, criminality,and terrorism.

A number of interest groups have weaponizedhuman rights; some well-meaning, others ill-intentioned.

They attempt to discredit the functioninginstitutions and mechanisms of a democratic country and a popularly elected government which in its last two years, still enjoys the same widespread approval and support.

These detractors pass themselves off ashuman rights advocates while preying on the most vulnerable humans; even using children as soldiers or human shields in encounters. Even schools are not spared from their malevolence andanti-government propaganda.

They hide their misdeeds under the blanketof human rights but the blood oozes through.

To move forward, open dialogue andconstructive engagement with the United Nations is the key.

But these must be done in full respect ofthe principles of objectivity, non-interference, nonselectivity and genuine dialogue. These are the fundamental bases for productive international cooperation on human rights.

Mr. President, terrorism looms large.

As I said at the Aqaba Process, the Philippineswill do everything and partner with anyone who would sincerely desire to protect the innocent from terrorism in all its manifestations.

The Marawi siege, where foreign terroristfighters took part, taught us that an effective legal framework is crucial. Our 2020 Anti-Terrorism Act shores up the legal framework by focusing on both terrorism and the usual reckless response to it.

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Its enactment was done pursuant to ourcommitment, and the strict adherence to the relevant Security Council resolutions and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

Most importantly, we remain committed torebuild stricken communities and address the root causes of terrorism and violent extremism inmy country.

We must remain mindful of our obligations and commitment to the Charter of the United Nations and as amplified by the 1982 Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes.

The Philippines affirms that commitment in theSouth China Sea in accordance with UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award.

The Award is now part of international law,beyond compromise, and beyond the reach of passing governments to dilute, diminish, or abandon.

We firmly reject attempts to undermine it.

We welcome the increasing number ofstates that have come in support of the award and what it stands for — the triumph of reason overrashness, of law over disorder, of amity over ambition. This — as it should — is the majesty of the law.

Mr. President, the global health crisis hasfurther complicated the global security environment, but no aspiration nor ambition can justify the use of weapons that destroy indiscriminately and completely.

There is no excuse for deaths that a nuclearwar could cause, nor the reckless use of chemical and biological weapons that can cause mass destruction.

These weapons of death put us all atmortal risk, especially if they fall in the hands of terrorists without a shred of humanity in their souls. We call on all Member States to fully implement the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and the Chemical and the Biological Weapons Conventions.


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I have asked the Philippine Senate to ratifythe Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Importantly, we were among those to sign it first.

Mr. President, the Philippines has a longhistory of opening its doors to the refugees — from the White Russians following the 1917 Revolution, the European Jews in the Second World War, the Vietnamese in the late 1960s, and the Iranians displaced by the 1979 revolution, among others.

The Philippines continues to honor thishumanitarian tradition in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol.

But lest we forget, helping the most vulnerable — those displaced by conflict, persecution, and political instability — is a shared responsibility of all countries.

As I have said many times, the doors of thePhilippines are open, as they have always been, to everyone fleeing for safety, such as the Rohingyas.

In the face of a mounting refugee crisisworldwide, let us work together toward ending the conflicts and conditions that force people toflee their homes.

Mr. President, as our societies becomemore diverse yet interdependent, social cohesion issues come to the fore.

Mutual understanding always accompanied by mutual tolerance between those of different faithsand cultures is the only foundation of societies at peace with itself and all others.

Finally, I express gratitude to the gallantpeacekeepers, including our own, who advance the cause of peace in the most difficult situations.

From the Golan Heights in the Middle East toLiberia in West Africa, Filipino peacekeepers put themselves in the frontlines between the vulnerable and those who seek harm.

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We are committed to increasing the Philippinefootprint in UN peacekeeping operations with increased participation of women.

Again, Mr. President, to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges, we must work with seamless unity which demands complete mutual trust, and the conviction that we will win or lose together.

We cannot bring back the dead, but wecan spare the living, and we can build back better, healthier, more prosperous, and just societies.

To this end, we rededicate ourselves tomultilateralism. The UN remains humanity’s essential organization, but it is only as effective as we make it.

To make significant changes, we need to bebold. We need the same collective courage that finally made the United Nations a reality 75 years ago.

We need to act on long-standingrecommendations to improve the Security Council’s

composition and working methods; to strengthen the role of the General Assembly; and to streamline the processes and the operations of the UN.

Indeed, to be ready for the new global normal,it cannot be business as usual for the UN.

Let us empower the UN — reform it — to meetthe challenges of today and tomorrow.

Let us strengthen it, so it can fully deliver itsmandate to maintain peace and security, uphold justice and human rights, and promote freedom and social progress for all.

After all, we are the United Nations. Thank you.


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PHOTO GALLERY

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the troops during his visit to the Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Headquarters in Jolo, Sulu on July 13, 2020. Fulfilling his promise to visit the soldiers in Jolo, the President talked to the troops to boost their morale. ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on July 15, 2020. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Matina Enclaves in Davao City on August 17, 2020. SIMEON CELI, JR. /PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte leads the candle lighting and the offering of flowers at the blast site at Barangay Walled City in Jolo, Sulu on August 30, 2020. ACE MORANDANTE/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte discusses matters with some members of the Cabinet who attended the Aqaba Process Virtual Meeting at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on September 2, 2020. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTOS

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, together with some members of his Cabinet, and Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go listen as INTERPOL Secretary General Prof. Dr. Jürgen Stock shares his remarks during the Aqaba Process video conference at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on September 2, 2020. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTOS

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his message via videoconference as the 12th speaker in the General Debate of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly held at General Assembly Hall, New York on September 22, 2020. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTOS

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July-September 2020 · Kung gusto mo i-blowout na lang kita doon sa Pagbabago. If you want to take the plane with me in going back to Manila, I invite you para ma-blowout naman kita