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The cleanup of Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares is long overdue. I like to compare the current road-clearing operations in the metropolis to the rehabilitation of Boracay Island and other famous resorts in the Philippines, which has been a success and noticed by foreign tourism bodies and travelers alike.

Just like any elections, the 2019 midterm polls produced winners and losers. That is simply the nature of the political game. An overlooked outcome of the recent May polls is the emergence of young public servants in all levels of government. In some instances, their victories caused the downfall of long-serving, veteran politicians.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 22 was significant in many ways. First, it was delivered as the President is enjoying high public approval ratings. The Pulse Asia survey on the Performance and Trust Ratings of the Top Philippine Government Officials conducted just prior to the SONA showed that 85% of Filipinos continue to trust Duterte, and approve of the job he is doing. Only 3% disapprove of his work as president.