PRESIDENT Duterte will no longer hold his weekly public address Talk to the People “unless the President has something to announce,” Communications Secretary and acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said yesterday.
Duterte, whose term ends on June 30, delivered his last Talk to the People address on June 6, during which he expressed his gratitude for the people’s trust in him.
President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been holding briefings at his headquarters in Mandaluyong to update the public on his government’s plans on current issues, among others.
Duterte, together with his Cabinet and the members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), started the weekly address in 2020 to report to the public about the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation in the country, actions taken by his government, and the vaccination program.
Duterte later used the weekly address to talk about other issues confronting the government such as corruption and the illegal drugs situation.
The weekly briefings were aired by Malacañang either late at night or the following day.
The President has also started to wind down on his public appearances but continued to have private engagements which included several “thanksgiving” meetings and gatherings with different sectors.
Among the remaining public engagements of Duterte are the “Salamat, PRRD” thanksgiving gathering at the Quirino Grandstand on June 26, which will be open to the public.
