Duterte delegates Philippines into economic sweet spot but misgivings rising

Workers work on steel frames as the construction of a skyway pushes through at a major thoroughfare in metro Manila, Philippines December 23, 2016. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

MANILA (Reuters) - After six months at the helm in the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte has been touting just two achievements of his presidency - a vicious war on drugs and a surprise alliance with his country's bitter rival, China.

Yet behind the curse-laden bluster and populist demagoguery that has defined Duterte's rule, he presides over one of the world's fastest growing economies, and has put cabinet colleagues to work on drafting reforms and legislation to tackle the economy's most stubborn structural problems.