Rizal Hall, Malacañan Palace
February 7, 2019

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte expressed his dismay over the bureaucratic red tape and corruption in the government as he administered the oath-taking of newly appointed officials from various government agencies in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall of Malacañan Palace.

President Duterte recalled how he deserted the recent Cabinet Meeting due to his frustration over the report on red tape at the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

“Though no fault of anybody, I discovered very late that there are some applications which have been pending in NEDA for 25 years. So ‘yon namang sa conversion, it took them about two years? And two years that includes verily corruption. Pabalik-balik ‘yung tao, pabalik-balik. And there’s no end to it, the bleeding of the pocket of the guy and the… Not only the reputation but government suffers for it also. One time they were presenting something like a way to expedite…” he said.

Fuming over these corrupt activities, the President reiterated that these repetitive and redundant processes in the government “would create hell for everybody” and the system itself is “designed to experience a failed government.”

Furthermore, President Duterte talked on the other problems plaguing the country including the proliferation of illegal drugs, terrorism, and communist insurgency, among others. He vowed to do the best that he can as the leader of the country to address these problems for the interest of the Filipino people.

“Kaya ako papasok kayo, let me just tell you, well at least during your time you can always say I give the best that I could for my country,” he said to the government officials before him.

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