VP Sara Duterte says 'there is hope' for PH amid public frustrations

Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday said there is still hope for the Philippines despite growing frustration among some Filipinos over conditions in their communities and in government.

Speaking during the 60th Araw ng Nunungan celebration in Nunungan town in Lanao Del Norte, Duterte acknowledged that many Filipinos have grown weary, angry, or disillusioned, with some even aspiring to leave the country in search of better opportunities abroad.

“Is there hope for the Philippines?” Duterte asked during her speech.

She answered her own question by saying hope remains as long as Filipinos refuse to accept disorder, oppression, and poverty.

“Musulti ko kaninyo nga dunay panglaum, naay pag-asa. Kung dili nato dawaton ang kagubot, dunay paglaum kung di nato dawaton ang pagpangdaug-daug. Kung di nato dawaton na magpabiling pobre ang atoang nasod.”

(I tell you that there is hope. There is hope if we do not accept disorder, if we do not accept oppression, and if we do not accept our country remaining poor.)

Duterte said Filipinos must also think about the future they will leave for younger generations.

“Ang paglaom na atong kinahanglan kuptan, dili para sa atuang 15 years, kundi para sa ilang 60 years pa na nabilin ni aning atong nasud.”

(The hope we must hold on to is not for our remaining 15 years, but for the 60 years that still lie ahead for our children and grandchildren in this country.)

The Vice President also underscored the importance of disaster preparedness, citing her experiences during major earthquakes in Mindanao and urging residents to prepare for calamities before they strike.

She likewise commended Nunungan’s transformation from an area once associated with "rido" or clan feuds into what she described as a model of peace and development in Lanao del Norte.

“Everything starts with peace,” Duterte said, stressing that development cannot thrive without stability and security..—MCG, GMA News