DAVAO CITY - First District Representative and presidential son Paolo “Pulong” Z. Duterte highlights outstanding constituent services to Dabawenyos and significant legislative actions as he completed his very first 365 days in Congress.

 

Rep. Duterte is grateful for what the Office of the First District has already achieved for one year, from introducing legislation for social welfare to ensuring the people of Davao City, particularly in the first district, get the significant representation they needed.

 

In the legislative front, the first-termer congressman has authored a total of 40 House Bills and Resolutions, including bills to help the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and Senior Citizens, fund efforts for sports and emergency response as well as relief assistance.

 

In response to the financial impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, he filed a bill establishing a COVID-19 unemployment reduction economic stimulus (CURES) fund, and an act establishing policies, regulations, and public health safeguards for the better normal in the workplace, public places, and communities toward a sustainable recovery from the pandemic.

 

He filed bills penalizing bulk cash smuggling into the country, requiring the registration of all sim card users, regulating the use of motorcycle as a public utility, granting Davao City Government a franchise to operate radio broadcasting station, and establishing a medical scholarship.

 

In his first 100 days, he has helped the House of Representatives passed the Act Postponing the May 2020 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections and the Act Creating and Establishing the Philippine Academy for Sports. 

 

Together with Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco (Marinduque) and Eric Go Yap (ACT-CIS), he pushed for the House Bill No. 7031 that seeks to change the name of the country’s primary airport from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas (PPP).

 

Rep. Duterte earlier vowed to come up with laws that will positively impact the people - usher in livelihood, generate jobs, improve infrastructures, provide education opportunities to less fortunate children and the youth, and bring sustainable development. He also co-authored a total of 23 house bills and resolutions since he started in his post. He said that his main agenda is to promote meaningful development and positive change for the people, especially the Dabawenyos.

 

Social services

 

The Congressman has been true to his vows. When he was the Davao City Vice Mayor, Rep. Duterte already spearheaded a barangay caravan and many people were assisted with various services, which continues up to the present.

 

Among the services offered are dental aid, medical checkup, eye checkup with free reading glasses, livelihood programs for solo parents, legal services related to violence against women and children, anti-drug abuse lecture, basketball clinic with the 3-on-3 competition, and food packs distributions.

 

Rep. Duterte continues to collaborate with different government agencies, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Health, and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to effectively and efficiently deliver his programs to his constituents.

 

COVID-19 Pandemic

 

To mitigate the impact of the national health emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic wherein thousands of people lost their jobs following the closure of several business establishments, the Office of Rep. Duterte distributed food packs to 54 barangays in Davao City District 1, provided cash assistance to Trisikad Drivers and Muslim Indigents through his DSWD financial assistance program, and released emergency employment assistance package under DOLE Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) to Tricycle Drivers, Solo Parents, Barbers, Hairdressers, Nail Technicians, & Massage Therapists.

 

This is not the first time that the office of the congressman facilitated cash assistance for the drivers. Rep. Duterte also helped tricycle drivers through 30-day cash for work in line with the TUPAD program last year. 

 

In addition to financial and food assistance, the office of Rep. Duterte, also distributed face masks and other medical equipment and supplies to various hospitals, barangays, municipalities, and cities.

 

Infrastructure

 

Congressman Duterte said that the office has so far dealt with many projects such as the construction of multipurpose buildings, flood control and drainage works, road widening and/or maintenance, construction and reconstruction of roads and bridges, and preventive maintenance. These projects have been prioritized to comply with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the City District Engineering Office (DEO) to clear roads of obstructions and to address concerns in flood-prone areas, especially during the heavy downpour.

 

It has been an eventful 365 days for the first-termer Congressman Deputy Speaker and Davao City First District Representative Paolo “PULONG” Z. Duterte as he bravely took his first steps in Congress and accomplished valuable contributions to the Filipino people. Looking forward to another productive year.