Filipinos have chosen the most brilliant minds to become leaders of the country but poverty worsened, presidential hopeful Sen. Manny Pacquiao declared as he offered himself to lead the government that will improve the lot of the poor.

“Kung paano nangarap para maiahon sa kahirapan ang aking pamilya, ang aking mga relatives, gayon din po ang aking pangarap na maiahon sa kahirapan ang buong sambayanang Pilipino. (Just as I dreamed of lifting my family and relatives from poverty, that is the same dream I have for the Filipino people),” Pacquiao said in his final statement during the Panata ng Bayan presidential forum sponsored by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters ng Pilipinas (KBP).

The Panata ng Bayan was aired nationwide with veteran broadcast hosts Karen Davila and Rico Hizon hosting the three-hour event. Pacquiao's priorities revolve around the acronym HEALTH: Housing for all; Education that is totally free and supported with “one student, one gadget” policy; Agriculture support for farmers and fisherfolk by barring importation of rice and other produce locally available; Livelihood program that is sustained in order to improve employment; Transportation and Telecommunications program that will address the traffic situation and improve Internet signal and Health - more modern medical facilities in the countryside.

Except for TeamUnity bet Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.., the event was attended by presidential bets Vice President Leni Robredo; Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson of Partido Reporma; Aksyon Demokratiko’s Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso; labor leader Leody de Guzman and Pacquiao.

Like his rivals, Pacquiao believes graft and corruption is the priority of all national problems that his presidency must address.

He vowed not to raise taxes and to avoid increasing further the country’s foreign borrowings, saying that it is now time to tape no- tax revenue income to fill the gap for expenditures.

“Pinakamalaking concern natin ay mas malaki ang ginagastos kesa kinikita dahil sa korapsyon. Kaya gusto ko makita sa kulungan ang mga corrupt. (Our biggest concer is that our expenditures are higher than income because of corruption. That is why I want the corrupt to be locked up),” he said.

He plans to reduce corporate taxes in order to encourage more foreign businesses to invest int he country.

On his vow to provide free housing to the homeless, Pacquiao said the program will be funded from the estimated P500 billion that government can save in addressing corruption.

Asked if distributing money to people which Pacquiao has done a number of times can be considered corruption, the Mindanaoan senator said he sees nothing wrong with it.

He explained that giving out cash to the people has been his way of helping the poor since he started cashing in from a highly successful boxing career in 2002. Further, he stressed that he will stop the practice as soon as campaign period starts because by then, the act is illegal.

Pacquiao said he would allow the operation of on-line sabong which other candidates, especially Lacson abhorred as damaging to the unity of the family and the welfare of the youth.

“Kailangan lang i-regulate at ma=manage ng husto ng gobyerno na lahat na maglalaro ay may sapat na edad. Siguraduhin na makolekta ang mga buwis. (there should be regulation and good management of the government to ensure that players are in the right aage. Collection of taxes should be ensured),” he stated.

Pacquiao also said he will give the go-signal for the establishment of the Mindanao railway to expand its services by including General Santos City, Zamboanga and Davao provinces.

The boxing great aired support for the creation of a corporation that would manage Boracay island’ tourism development and operations. However, he stressed that public consultation will be given priority on whether or not they would agree to this set up.

In addressing the drug problemand congestion of jails, Pacquiao vowed to put up a “mega prison” that would decongest existing prison facilities with high inmate population.