Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday, June 27, praised Manila Mayor Isko Moreno for collaborating with her on her newest initiative, Vaccine Express, that inoculated about 4,500 tricycle drivers and delivery riders in Manila last week.
During her weekly radio show, Robredo said that Moreno welcomed her team’s proposal and collaborated with them for the success of the drive-through vaccine program despite the fact that they are from different political parties.
Robredo is the chairperson of the opposition Liberal Party while Moreno has been known to be friendly to the current administration.
“Kami magkaiba ng partido pero iyong nagpapasalamat ako sa kanya kasi hindi niya hinayaan na bigyang kulay pulitika iyong proposal namin (We are from different parties but I am thankful to him because he did not let political colors affect our proposal),” she said.
Manila became the pilot city for the Vaccine Express. Its two-day run on June 22 and 23 vaccinated 500 tricycle and pedicab drivers, as well as delivery riders.
READ: Robredo-Isko Vaccine Express for trike drivers starts on June 22
The vice president noted their joint initiative has nothing to do with the incoming 2022 polls.
“Because if Mayor Isko is thinking about 2022, he would’ve not allowed us, right? Maybe he would’ve not partnered with us but the mere fact that when we proposed, he immediately said yes, for me that’s very admirable because he didn’t let politics get in the way of the program,” she said in Filipino.
The Liberal Party is considering Robredo as its standard-bearer for the May 2022 polls while Moreno is also being pushed by some political factions to run as either president or vice president.
The vice president said that the difference with Moreno is that he was not ashamed of being seen publicly with her.
READ: COVID-19 response should have ’no political colors,’ says Robredo
Over the past five years, Robredo has been used to local government officials refusing to be seen with her because she’s from the opposition.
“Kay Mayor Isko, walang ganun. In fact, noong nandun kami, wala akong naramdaman na parang umiiwas siya. Alam mo iyong makuhanan ng litrato with me, walang ganun. Ang naramdaman ko lang iyong pakiramdam basta sa tao wala tayong pulitikang pag-uusapan (With Mayor Isko, there’s nothing like that. In fact, when we were there, I didn’t feel that he’s avoiding me. You know, getting pictured with me, there’s nothing like that. What I felt only is that we don’t have to talk about politics),” she said.
On social media, there was even a photo of Moreno taking a selfie of him and Robredo.
The two officials are planning a second round of the Vaccine Express that will benefit vendors.