House of Representatives members gave high marks for outgoing President Duterte, although they agreed that they would have given the 77-year-old leader an even higher overall grade if not for the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo and Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor gave Duterte an eight out of 10 and nine out of 10, respectively.
"I would give PRRD’s (Duterte) administration an overall rating of eight out of 10," said Salo, a vice chairman of the House Committee on Public Information.
"It would have been an 8.5 had it not for the pandemic that derailed and undid many of the socio-economic gains his administration has earlier achieved," he noted.
Meanwhile, Defensor said of Duterte's performance as president for the past six years: "I would say a nine ."
Asked what would have made Duterte's grade a perfect 10, the Anakalusugan solon said, "The Covid-19 response could have been improved."
Despite this, Defensor said in his message to the outgoing leader, "Well done sir. It's time to take a rest and to enjoy your family and friends. Thank you for your service to the nation."
This was echoed by Salo, who declared the outgoing administration as "an overall success".
"Significant improvement in infrastructure, higher salaries for civilian personnel, accessible higher education, and an empowered citizenry are small testaments to the success of PRRD. His promise of lifting six million Filipinos out of extreme poverty was achieved in 2018, and we’re back on track to becoming an upper middle income country. The list is long and unenumerable," he said.
"As he proceeds to leave the halls of the Palace and turns it over to his successor, PRRD needs to savour the first day of the rest of his life and sleep soundly knowing he did all he could for the betterment of the Filipino people. I wish him continued good health and great spirits and enjoy the presence of his family and friends," Salo said.
"We always aspire that the next leader will be better than his predecessor. PRRD has certainly set a very high bar to cover. We are confident though that the new President will equal, if not surpass, PRRD’s legacies," the Kabayan lawmaker further said, referring to President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
The turnover rites between Duterte and Marcos will take place Thursday, June 30, the day of the latter's inauguration as 17th president of the Philippines.