Filipinos were all shocked and saddened after hearing the news over the untimely death of former president Noynoy, who served the country for six years.

PNoy, five years after he stepped down from office, passed away on Thursday, June 24 as several reports have confirmed. He was 61 years old, died due to renal disease secondary to diabetes.

He was the 15th president of the Republic of Philippines -the honorable Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III, also known as “PNoy” and “Noynoy” who came from the Liberal Party dated 2010 to 2016, had completed his term with less popularity as he began it.

Looking back when the former president took his first walk into Malacañang seemed to look like no baggage, but brought home the heavy loads of the country he led. He is considered the most low-key president of his time, an orphan and a bachelor.

One could argue that he is not the perfect president and his winning was a byproduct of his parents’ legacy, however, his shortcomings, successes and the latter have become part of the fate of the nation. Here are some of his notable contributions under his administration:

RH Bill signed into Law

In 2012, the passing of the Reproductive Health law provides universal access to reproductive health care services and information for Filipinos. The law gives way to provide access to contraceptives which created strong opposition from the Catholic Church.

Criticisms here and there as to whether to pass the controversial bill have created a divided approval and disdain from citizens.

Corona’s Impeachment

The issue of Chief Justice Renato Corona became one of the spotlights in Noynoy’s administration. As the president who hated midnight appointments had marked his words when he warned those in positions who made unlawful means.

In 2012, as the president attempted to remove corruption in the country, Corona underwent an impeachment trial. The proceedings have to decide if the Chief Justice should be removed from his position. After the 44-day trial, Corona was impeached, regaining the trust of his people, but the opposition contradicts the idea for the reason that it would affect the constitution.

MILF Framework Agreement

Two generations had passed and taken the lives of more than 100,000 Filipinos, finally, Aquino laid down the ground negotiation to end the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) conflict.

All stakeholders have supported the initiative to bring back the group to leave their rifles and instead go back to tilling the land, manning work stations, and selling products. This has renounced violence and achieved peace to the south. But later on, pass the entire renegotiation to his successor.

Pork Barrel Scam Exposure

Just after the Corona incident, the spotlight shifted on the political scandal involving misuse of the “kaban ng bayan” by several members of congress.

As the president of “Daang Matuwid,” he unleashes his power towards the release of the multi-billion pork barrel to senators and even the involvement of his predecessor, former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In 2013, Aquino’s camp managed to get the side of the alleged pork barrel scam operator Janet Lim Napoles to prove the details.

Economic Growth

For several decades, the Philippine economy has been performing poorly. However, during the late President Aquino’s administration, the economy has shown rapid growth and become acknowledged from the “Sick Man of Asia” to the “Rising Tiger.”

In 2014, the Philippines has made it the second-fastest-growing Asian country ahead of Vietnam, said Socio-economic planning secretary Arsenio Balisacan.

Also, in the Global Competitiveness Index of World Economic Forum in 2010 the country was placed 85th and in 2015 the Philippines jumped to 47th place, which was a half far cry. This includes the administration’s average annual GDP growth of 6.2 percent, the highest in the last 40 years.

Poverty Alleviation Program

Aquino, who hated corruption and believed “kung walang kurap, walang mahirap” stood firmly in uplifting the deep-seated poverty of the country. He reformed the government’s budget programs into social services, health and education. His most notable deeds were the well-built collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to alleviate the existing Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to help millions of Filipinos uplift their current living status, giving cash assistance and livelihood.

Saving Mary Jane Veloso

In April 2015, the hopeful story of Mary Jane Veloso, an overseas Filipino worker who was sentenced to death in Indonesia was recuperated in a last-minute action. Thanks to the Aquino administration, the appeal of execution has been dismissed.

Firm Stand in the West Philippine Sea

The conflict over claims of the West Philippine Sea is a “victory for all,” the former president said instead of viewing it as a victory to one party. As the chief architect of the Philippines, Aquino himself dragged China to court and sought to clarify the maritime boundaries between the South China Sea, as the expansion of China had reached within the country’s territory.

His legacy has opened clearer state rights and obligations that the long-time dispute has set boundaries in rules to move forward as a global community. Filipinos even celebrated the landmark ruling and rushed to visit the PCA website, which has 499 pages of the said ruling. In 2016, in pursuit of territorial claims, China later appealed the tribunal ruling and Duterte came in.

Aquino’s term, however, has never been flawless and scrutinized for mishandling Typhoon Haiyan (Super Typhoon Yolanda) where thousands of people lost their lives and rehabilitation is slow, in 2013. During the APEC Leaders’ Summit, the NCR never hid the long-standing traffic problems and has turned into a stagnant sea of cars. His presidency had never recovered from the “Fallen 44” or known as the Mamasapano clash and the Quirino Grandstand hostage-taking incident.

With this, may it be far from best, but the late president deserved to be respected and honored up to the last day of his existence. He may fail to deliver some of the challenges during his time, but his service, dedication and decency in serving the country will remain his legacy in the service of Filipino.

Source: https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/aquino-administration, https://dfa.gov.ph/documents-on-the-west-philippine-sea, https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/programs/conditional-cash-transfer, https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/bangsamoro2/the-2012-framework-agreement-on-the-bangsamoro, https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2011/12/12/articles-of-impeachment-against-chief-justice-renato-c-corona-december-12-2011, https://www.plcpd.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/A-primer-on-the-Reproductive-Health-Law.pdf

Photo Credit: www.facebook.com/BenignoBamAquino