There was no crass joke or offensive comment against women this time.
After being previously criticized for stating the presidency is no job for a woman, President Duterte is apparently impressed with the women rising in leadership roles especially in Surigao del Sur.
The high number of women mayors in Surigao del Sur left the President in awe when he visited the storm-hit province Tuesday.
Duterte acknowledged the mayors, mostly women, attending the briefing in Tandag City on the extent of the damage caused by tropical storm Auring.
"Puro babae man (They're mostly women)," the President commented as he made a roll call of the local government officials present in the meeting.
It may have just been a passing remark that Duterte made, but truth be told - 11 of the 19 cities and municipalities in Surigao del Norte are run by women.
For starters, the mayor of Tandag City, where the briefing was held, was Roxanne Pimentel.
Among women leaders cited by the President were Mayor Josie Bonifacio of Cortes, Mayor Lilian Yu-Lozada of Cagwait, Mayor Jane Valeroso-Plaza of Carmen, Mayor Novelita Sarmen of Lianga, and Mayor Mary Grace Kimura of Madrid.
"Ma’am, I am pleased to meet you," the President told the women leaders.
Other women in Surigao del Sur’s local government are Mayor Hazel Elizalde of San Miguel, Mayor Maria Clarita Garcia-Limbaro of Bayabas, Mayor Maria Clara Pichay of Cantilan, and Mayor Libertad Alameda of San Agustin.
Last month, the President claimed that the presidency was not a woman's job due to their emotional differences to men.
He made the comment in trying to dismiss speculations that his daughter Mayor Sara Duterte might succeed him next year.
Duterte, who will end his six-year term next year, has discouraged his daughter from running for president to spare her of the supposed hardship, from long working hours to constant attacks and insults from detractors.
The country had two women presidents so far, namely Gloria Macapagal Arroyo from 2001 to 2010 and Corazon Aquino from 1986 to 1992.