MANDAUE CITY – Senator Manny Pacquiao reiterated that he is not going to back out from the presidential race.
Pacquiao said he is determined to win the presidency to fulfill his aspiration to lift the poor out of poverty and weed out corruption in the government.
"This fight is the fight of the people. This is not my or my family's fight, this is the fight of the people," Pacquiao said in Visayan.
If someone has to back out, it should be the candidates who are running for their own interest, Pacquiao said.
"Some are running to give shame. They are running for their own welfare," he added.
Pacquiao was in Mandaue on Monday, Feb. 7, to grace the groundbreaking of a multi-purpose building in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue.
Without mentioning the exact amount, Pacquiao helped fund the four-story building and another housing project
"My goal is to really help the homeless. I really want to help them. I want to give them not just houses but also livelihood," said Pacquiao.
In front of families who are the beneficiaries of his housing project, Pacquiao shared how he and his family rose from poverty.
It is through experiencing being poor that he is determined to help the less-fortunate not just in the country but also abroad.
Pacquiao said his housing project started in 2002 and has also expanded to East Africa.
"I have given at least 2,000 houses and even in Uganda, there is already a Pacman Village there," Pacquiao said.
During the event, Pacquiao distributed forms that the residents had to fill up for future housing and livelihood assistance.
"Now that I have been blessed, we will help all everyone. If time comes that we are in the position already, each family will be given free housing," Pacquiao said.
Present in the activity were Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes, Vice Mayor Glen Bercede and some members of the City Council.
Cortes thanked Pacquiao for helping put up a housing project in the city.
"Thank you very much Senator Manny. Rest assured we will not put your help to waste. We will use this as an inspiration," said Cortes.