Panelo says ‘best yet to come’ in 2020

The survey, done from March 28 to 31 of this year, revealed that Pinoys still have the biggest trust in the U.S., giving it a net trust rating of “very good” +60, while the Japan and Australia only got a “good” +34 and “good” +33 score, respectively. (File photo by Glendale Lapastora’s Pictures (Official)/Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0)

MANILA — The best is yet to come next year.

This was the assurance of Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Sunday, as he welcomed the results of the Dec. 13 to 16 poll conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS), which showed that 96 percent of Filipinos is entering 2020 with hope rather than with fear.

Panelo noted a similar survey conducted by Pulse Asia on Dec. 3 to 8 found that 93 percent of Filipinos is welcoming the new year with hope and positivity.

He said the Palace wishes a “happy, peaceful and successful 2020” for the country.

“There are indeed reasons to be confident in the new year under the leadership and administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” the Palace official said in a statement.

“As we wish each Filipino a happy, peaceful and successful 2020, we assure everyone that the best is yet to come. Let us continue to rally behind the Duterte administration as the Chief Executive does his best in serving and protecting the Filipino people, as well as delivering genuine and meaningful change to our nation,” he added.

Prior to the New Year’s celebration, President Rodrigo Duterte pinned hope that Filipinos would continue to enjoy a “comfortable life” and feel a “lasting peace.”

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar on Saturday said all Filipinos will have a better future, if they give their full support to the Duterte administration’s policies and programs.

Despite the “difficult but game-changing” reforms initiated by the President, significant strides have been made to achieve his goal of bringing a more comfortable life for all Filipinos, Panelo said.

Panelo also bragged that 2019 has been an “exemplary year for the Philippines.”

“The economy is on the roll with a BBB+ rating. The Board of Investments has also breached its PHP1-trillion 2019 investment target as of October 2019, according to the Department of Trade and Industry. There are fewer poor Filipinos with almost six million lifted out from poverty. Employment has hit a 14-year high. Inflation has been tamed,” he said.

“Further, the country successfully hosted the 30th Southeast Asian Games nearing the end of 2019, and at the same time, became the overall champion with a record-breaking 149 gold and a 385 medal haul overall,” Panelo noted.

Next year, the President would still go after individuals who will attempt to commit unlawful acts, the Palace spokesperson also said.

Panelo guaranteed there will be “no saints” under Duterte’s watch.

“Kung ano ang nakikita mong kailangan, iyan ang bibigyan natin ng kaukulan (Whatever you think needs improvement will be addressed),” he said in an interview with dzIQ, when asked about what needs to be done next year to improve the lives of Filipinos.

“Lahat ng mga illegal eh uubusin niya. Wala siyang sasantuhin (He will stop all the illegal acts. There will be no saints for him),” Panelo added.

He said the Chief Executive would strive harder for a “peaceful and bountiful” new year.

He added that Duterte would continue to fulfill his mandate under the 1987 Constitution to serve and protect the Filipinos.

“At walang pwersa o tao ang makakapigil sa kanya hanggang matapos ang kanyang termino bilang presidente (No force or person can stop him in fulfilling his mandate until his term as president ends),” Panelo said.

“Bibigyan niya ng kaukulang pagtugon ang lahat ng pangangailangan ng sambayang Pilipino na magkaroon ng kumportableng buhay (He will attend to the needs of Filipinos to give them a comfortable life),” he added.