"To the Filipino people, when the dust settled in the war zone and all programs and platforms were heard, I sincerely hope that I was able to present myself as the leader we need: competent, qualified, and with the wealth of experience.
This was the closing statement of presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo ‘’Ping’’ M. Lacson after a three-hour Kapisanan ng mga Brodkastersng Pilinas Presidential Candidates Forum.
He and the four other presidential bets later claimed separately he or she is the more qualified to be elected as the next President of the Republic.
They later affirmed their oath to conduct a clean, fair and honest election.
The election campaign for the May 2022 national elections starts February 8.
As he vowed his readiness ‘’to go to war,’’ Lacson promised to the people that at the end of his term as President, there should be no doubt in the mind of every Filipino that we are better off than when we started; that our people trust their government much better than ever before.
Under a Lacson administration, there will be no corruption – the government will be clean and honest to the people.
“Isa sa mga natutuhan ko sa loob ng kalahating siglong serbisyo-publiko bilang sundalo, pulis, at mambabatas ay ang kasabihang ‘huwag sasabak sa giyera nang hindi handa,’” Lacson said to open his speech (One of the things I have learned in over half a century of public service as a soldier, policeman, and lawmaker is the saying ‘don’t go into war without being prepared),’’ he said.
As Partido Reporma’s candidate for president, he said it was clear to him who the enemies were: the pandemic, poverty, the lack of jobs, huge national debt, hunger, challenges to education – and the most painful of them all: the rampant theft and corruption of the people’s money “mula pa sa panahon ng gintong orinola noong mga 1950s (from the era of the golden piss pot in the 1950s).’’
“Let me share with you the unfortunate reality: Lahat tayo takot manakawan, ngunit tuwing eleksyon naman, may binoboto tayong mga Magnanakaw ,” the longtime public servant said
“For the longest time, we have witnessed how corruption, the worst form of thievery, destroys our nation -- denying our people their livelihood, health, education, equal opportunity, and worst, the future of our next generation,” the former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief added.
Lacson noted that over P700 billion was lost to corruption every year – going straight into the pockets of the few who lust for power. Each year, every peso from Filipino taxpayers lost its value, thus each vote lost its meaning, he added.
“Isang maaasahan at mapagkakatiwalaan na pamahalaan – this is my vow to our people. Sa loob ng unang isang daang araw, sisimulan ko ang internal cleansing laban sa mga ICUs – o mga Inept, Corrupt, at Undisciplined government officials and employees (A reliable and trustworthy government – this is my vow to our people. Within the first 100 days, I will start an internal cleansing against the ICUs – the Inept, Corrupt, at Undisciplined government officials and employees),’’ the three-term senator added.
He said the Lacson government's arsenal “is a science-based, data-driven, and future-proof platform that can withstand the test of time.”
“My mission is clear: ‘Aayusin ang gobyerno upang maging maayos ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino’ (Fix the government, fix the lives of every Filipino),” he stressed.
Under a good government, Lacson said there would be funding for quality healthcare, led by the full P260-billion investment in the Universal Healthcare Act of which he was one of the principal authors.
“As we transition from COVID-19 pandemic to ‘endemic,’ our foundation will be quality, accessible and affordable healthcare,” he added, with a target of 1 hospital bed per 800 population, more benefits for all healthcare workers, and health stations in each barangay.
On the Mindanao railway project, Lacson said contracts signed should be respected as there is such a thing as inviolability of contracts.
On proposed reclamation projects, Lacson said decisions on this issue should be ‘’science-based, data-driven.’’
He conceded that there are areas that need reclamation projects but stressed the need for consultations.
Lacson also said that there is a need to adopt a PPP (Private Public Partnership) scheme in continuing infrastructure projects.
He also stressed the need for a ‘’dignified’’ salary for health workers.
Under a good government, the Partido Reporma chief said a thriving economy will return, with ample support for micro, small, medium enterprises (MSMEs) through Comprehensive and Targeted Fiscal Stimulus Packages.
“Itataguyod ko ang Reformed 4Ps hindi lamang para itawid kundi para iahon sa kahirapan ang buhay ng ating mga mamamayan. Ang kaakibat ng ayuda mula sa gobyerno ay disenteng hanapbuhay (I will advance a Reformed 4Ps not just to sustain but to bring out of poverty the lives of our countrymen. The aid coming from the government will be paired with a decent livelihood),’’ he added.
Under a good government, agriculture would take a leading role, said Lacson.
He will give priority to giving out seeds, fertilizer, irrigation systems, machinery, and facilities to boost the productivity of our food providers.
Lacson also vowed to wean the country away from an “importation-dependent mentality” that he said was killing the local agriculture sector.
Under a good government, the son of Cavite said access to quality education is a priority, with a school in all geographically isolated, disadvantaged, and conflict-affected areas. Senior high school students will get the opportunity to earn a monthly allowance from a government internship program, and more students would be assured of completing their college degrees.
Under a good government, the native of Imus said he will push for a meaningful budget reform to bring down to the country’s villages the excess or unused funds that national agencies don’t utilize, to the tune of P300 billion yearly.
“Marangal na trabaho at patas na oportunidad para sa lahat, malapit o malayo man sa Kamaynilaan ,” he added.
“Sa madaling sabi: Tataya tayo sa ating mga programa na tinitiyak kong may konkretong direksyon, plano, at pondo -- makatotohanan at napag-aralan, hindi puro kwentuhan at bolahan (In short, we will bet on our programs that I can guarantee will have a concrete direction, plan, and funding – truthful and well thought out, not just gossip and ‘spin’),’’ the Partido Reporma chief added.