In less than two days of visits made by Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao to barangay and local government units in Caraga region, over 50,000 individuals have aired hopes of benefitting from the senator’s anti-poverty master plan that guarantees sufficient aid, jobs and homes as he bids for the presidency.
Pacquiao and his team have conducted dialogues with various communities initially in Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte to personally inform the people of his program of government.
In several consultation meetings, Pacquiao introduced his masterplan program that seeks to ensure financial assistance during the pandemic, jobs for the unemployed and underemployed, and free housing.
Philippines ranks high among the country’s in the world with huge homeless and jobless population.
The lawmaker also underscored the need to strengthen and make readily available medical aide and hospitalization to all Filipinos.
He is the author of Senate bill No. 555 that proposes to convert the Siargao District Hospital in Surigao del Norte into a Level 3 general hospital to be known as the Siargao Island Medical Center.
“Masaya ako na mabigyan ng pag-asa ang ating mga kababayan na magkakaroon sla ng marangal na trabaho at mga sariling bahay. Sa ngayon kasi ‘yun ang magpapalakas ng kanilang loob, yung hindi sila mawalan ng pag-asa na bukas gaganda ang mga buhay nila at ang kanilang mga pamilya. ( I am happy to give our countrymen hope in getting decent jobs and their own homes. Right now, these are the thing that would strengthen them in order that they would not lose hope for a better life for them and their families.),” said Pacquiao, a Mindanaoan.
Pacquiao, official presidential bet of Promdi party and head of the PDP-Laban (Pimentel wing), said the increasing number of people enlisting their names as supporter of the masterplan has become an inspiration to him and his team.
Millions of Filipinos have already written their names in the masterlist since it made the rounds in the country starting 2019.
Pacquiao, who is chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Works, also conferred with local government and religious leaders in Caraga region.
“Noon pa man mula nang ako ay magsimula sa serbisyo publiko, ito na ang pangarap ko para sa mga maralita nating mga kababayan. Nasimulan na natin ito, pero kailangan talaga ng malaking suporta at pagpopondo mula sa national government para ma-sustain at maabot and tinatarget na bilang ng matutulungan. (Even at the start of my public service, this has been my dream for the our poor countrymen. We have started it but we really need strong support and funding from the national government to sustain and to be able to reach the targeted number of beneficiaries),’ said the country’s boxing icon.