The “best is yet to come” for the Filipino people as the Duterte administration is committed to do its best in serving the public.

Jolly man in red shirt President Rodrigo’s Duterte holiday tradition is giving joy and love to children afflicted with cancer by visiting the House of Hope in Davao City. MALACAÑANG PHOTO

There are indeed plenty of reasons for all Filipinos to be hopeful in the coming year 2020.

Thus, said Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and spokesman Salvador Panelo in reaction to the latest survey showing 96 percent of Filipinos are

welcoming the new year with hope rather than fear.

President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to work even harder next year to give Filipinos a comfortable life and to change the ways of the country, Panelo disclosed.

Panelo made the remark when asked about Mr. Duterte’s New Year’s message to the Filipino people.

The Palace aide maintained that the “best is yet to come” for the Filipino people as the Duterte administration is committed to do its best in serving the public.

Mr. Duterte again provided joy and love to young but sickly children when he visited cancer patients in a hospital in Davao City on 29 December.

Photos provided by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) through its official Facebook page, showed the Chief Executive visiting pediatric cancer patients at the House of Hope in Davao City.

One photo shows the President about to personally hand a gift to a young female patient on a wheel chair while another shows him touring the hospital.

The President was also shown kissing the head of a young boy who is also a patient at the hospital.

In an earlier interview, Sen.Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said that President Duterte takes time to visit the children at the halfway house every year during Christmas.

“He will provide the necessary action to all the needs of the Filipino people for them to have comfortable lives and to change the ways of the country for us to have a healthy and progressive nation,” Panelo noted.

Panelo stressed the Duterte administration has performed better in 2019 in terms of uplifting the lives of the Filipino people and will sustain the gains in the coming year.

“There are indeed reasons to be confident in the new year under the leadership and administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” Panelo declared.

“2019 has been an exemplary year for the Philippines. The economy is on the roll with a BBB+ rating,” he added.

Panelo cited data from the Board of Investments showing that it has also breached its P1-trillion 2019 investment target as of October 2019.

“There are fewer poor Filipinos with almost six million lifted out from poverty. Employment has hit a 14-year high. Inflation has been tamed,” Panelo pointed out.

He cited the reforms implemented by Mr. Duterte as a key factor to the economic gains.

“Significant strides have been made with the President undertaking difficult but game-changing reforms which are important in achieving our goal of bringing a more comfortable life for all Filipinos,” Panelo said.

“As we wish each Filipino a happy, peaceful and successful 2020, we assure everyone that the best is yet to come,” he added.

Panelo prodded all Filipinos to continue rallying 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.”

For his part, PCOO chief Secretary Martin Andanar on Saturday said they are heartened that majority of Filipinos will welcome 2020 with hope.

Andanar said Filipinos by nature, are very optimistic and forward-looking and can often see the best in the most trying of circumstances, a trait that allowed Filipinos to succeed against all odds..

“But beyond just mere optimism, the Duterte administration is dedicated to empowering and enabling every Filipino in order for them to achieve their full potential and live a comfortable life through its social and economic policies and programs,” Andanar said in a statement.

“It also remains committed in fostering a civil society that is involved in the government’s process of addressing the people’s needs and concerns and creating local communities that take part in achieving peace and order,” he added.

Andanar echoed Panelo’s call for everyone to continue supporting the administration because it is through the participation of those in the government and of its citizens that we can continue and further the achievements of the administration thus far.

“It is through working together and being positive that we cannot just hope for a better future, but expect one for 2020 and beyond,” Andanar said.

In addition to the economic gains, Panelo also cited the country’s successful hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games where it emerged as the overall champion with record-breaking 385-medal haul, 149 of which were gold.