NOT ONLY was the inaugural speech of President Rodrigo Duterte last Thursday short at 1,300 words – it was also clear and straight to the point.

The new leader’s urgent call for change, for Tunay na Pagbabago, did not get buried under the usual verbiage of inaugural speeches of heads of government.

As he metamorphosed from mayor to president, Mr. Duterte gave the public – including plain folk, foreign observers, scholars, rebels, the media — a clear idea of what to expect from his administration and afforded them an easy way of checking promises against delivery.

To the applause of the inaugural crowd at Malacañang, he said: “Love of country, subordination of personal interests to the common good, concern and care for the helpless and the impoverished – these are among the lost and faded values that we seek to recover and revitalize as we commence our journey towards a better Philippines.

“The ride will be rough. But come and join me just the same. Together, shoulder to shoulder, let us take the first wobbly steps in this quest.”

Duterte traced citizens’ discontent to the “erosion of faith and trust in government” – citing diminished “trust in our leaders, faith in our judicial system, confidence in the capacity of our public servants to make the people’s lives better, safer and healthier.” He proceeded to:

• Direct all department secretaries and agency heads to reduce requirements and processing time of applications, from the submission to the release in 72 hours. He ordered them to remove redundant requirements and consider compliance with one office as sufficient for all.

• Calm the anxieties of investors by announcing that the government will honor contractual commitments, and that the playing rules will not be changed arbitrarily in the middle of the game.

• Assured rebels and minorities that the administration will “implement all signed peace agreements in step with constitutional and legal reforms.” To the global community, he affirmed that the Philippines will honor treaties and international obligations.

• Assured human rights advocates and critics of his unorthodox approach to fighting crime that: “As a lawyer and a former prosecutor, I know the limits of the power and authority of the President. I know what is legal and what is not. My adherence to due process and the rule of law is uncompromising.”

• Asked the Congress and the Commission on Human Rights to “allow us a level of governance that is consistent to our mandate” to fight corruption and crime, including the illegal drug menace.

In his first Cabinet meeting after the members were sworn in, he ordered among other things:

• The opening of a toll-free line 8888 to receive 24/7 complaints which will be endorsed to the proper agency for action.

• The airport not to give presidential flights preferential treatment if this would unfairly delay other planes already queuing for landing or takeoff.

• PAGCOR to cancel licenses for online gambling and to pool all its revenues for public health services and medicine.

• The banning of fixers from the Land Transportation Office and the Land Registration Administration.

• The building of a dedicated transport line connecting Clark International Airport to Metro Manila for efficient movement of plane passengers and luggage.

• Readers’ uptake on buko, kidney stones

READERS helped me find the correct name for the procedure in 2007 where a “staghorn calculus,” a branched stone measuring more than one inch, was removed from my right kidney by what I called vaguely as “laparoscopy-something.” tinyurl.com/jcwwom6

Danny Gutay <Danny.Gutay@dsh.ca.gov> said: “I think laparoscopy is just for examining the internal organs. Maybe you mean lithotripsy or nephrolithotomy. The most common procedure of removing kidney stone nowadays is ESWL (Extracorporeal soundwave lithotripsy), and a better way is the PCNL (Percutaneuos nephrolithotomy). I experienced both of these procedures, PCNL at UST sometime in 1987 by Dr. Dave Bolong, ESWL here in the US in 1992.”

Ab Arthur <abarthur@ymail.com> said: “Your column on kidney stones was interesting. I wonder with all the specialists consulted no mention was made of the analysis of the composition of the stone. Depending on the analysis, certain foods should be avoided since they can predispose the formation of more kidney stones. Yes, there are tremendous advancement in surgical methods, example laparoscopy, now routinely done. Drink more water and have stone analyzed.”

My reply: “My stone, if I remember right, was analyzed as calcium oxalate. Probably the water we were drinking in Pampanga in my youth contributed to it. Been advised to avoid salty and fatty foods. Could not discuss these and more details because I was worried readers would ask why I bother them with personal concerns.

“Another interesting (to me) angle is how come only my right kidney forms stones while the left has always been clear. This is intriguing, because our bodies are largely symmetrical in design and the liquid we drink passes both kidneys. I also discussed this with the urologist in the US and I got an answer, but I thought I should not overload readers with personal matters. Imagine, I started to talk about Mr. Duterte’s inauguration and ended up using much of my space discussing kidney stones. Many readers might stone me for that!”

Ramón de Jesús <rebdejesus@gmail.com> noted my mentioning “fresh buko juice – distinguished from coconut water,” and asked: “What is/are the difference(s) between the two, please?” I had explained in my column that “buko” refers to the young coconut while “niyog” is the mature nut. I offered the opinion that buko juice drunk daily could help wear out and expel kidney stones as in my case.

Some readers (they will remain unidentified) also asked about the cost of the procedure and who performed my “laparoscopy-something” at the New York Presbyterian nine years ago.