Speaker Lord Allan Velasco on Monday hailed President
Rodrigo Roa Duterte for his no-nonsense campaign against criminality and
corruption and for leading the country’s fight against COVID-19.
In his speech at the opening of the third regular session of
the 18th Congress, Velasco paid tribute to President Duterte in time for his
sixth and final State of the Nation Address (SONA) to Congress.
“Manapa’y mauuna na po ako, Mr. President, Mayor Sir, sa
pagpupugay at pagpapasalamat sa inyong matibay at walang sindak at pagkatig na
pagpapatupad ng ating mga batas upang magkaroon ng katahimikan at kapayapaan sa
ating mga pamayanan,” Velasco said.
He added: “Maraming salamat sa pagpapakitang walang lugar sa
ating gobyerno ang korapsyon. Salamat sa matinong pag-akay sa bansa sa gitna ng
isang pandaigdigang krisis.”
Velasco started his speech by going back to 2016 when, he
said, Filipinos “dared to choose an unconventional local chief executive as the
leader of our country.”
“We wanted ‘tapang’. We longed for ‘malasakit’. We clamored
for meaningful change in our society. We saw hope in one man, Rodrigo Roa
Duterte,” Velasco said.
Five years after, Velasco said people continue to put their
trust and confidence in President Duterte as he continues to enjoy survey
ratings, with his latest Pulse Asia approval rating at 91 percent.
“Only President Duterte among his predecessors, has kept his
approval ratings above 75 percent for most of his term, according to Pulse
Asia,” he added.
Velasco also cited the strong partnership between the
President and Congress, which led to the passage of vital legislative measures.
“We in the House of Representatives fully supported the
legislative agenda of this administration, passing laws that promoted economic
development, strengthened the administration of justice and the rule of law,
enhanced the protection of labor and social welfare, improved the quality of
and increased access to education and information, enhanced our health and
emergency response system, and strengthened our political and governmental
institutions,” Velasco said.
The House chief expressed hope President Duterte’s legacy of
meaningful change and comprehensive development will live on in the hearts and
minds of the next generations to come.
“Nawa’y ang Pamana ng Pagbabago ng isang Mayor President ay
lalo pang maramdaman at mapakinabangan ng mga Pilipino ngayon at sa darating na
panahon. Tulad ng mga dakilang Agila sa Ka-Dabawan, nawa’y patuloy na
sumahimpapawid at lumipad ang Pamana ng Pagbabago sa ating inang bayan,”
Velasco said.
“Salamat po, Ginoong Pangulo. Karangalan po namin na
maglingkod sa bayan kasama ninyo. Mr.
President, Mayor Sir, we stand proudly before you as a united House, always ready
to work with you, for the Philippines and the Filipino people.”
- House of Representatives of the Philippines
