The Philippines will learn to live with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and rebound economically at the same time.
Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) vice presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio made this rather lofty promise to Filipinos Tuesday night, Feb. 8, during the campaign kickoff of the BBM-Sara UniTeam ticket at the Philippine Arena in Santa Maria, Bulacan.
“We will move forward. We will live with COVID-19 and we will bounce like never before. We offer you a tandem... with wisdom and experience," Duterte-Carpio told those in attendance.
Duterte-Carpio is the running mate of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
The upcoming May polls will be held in the backdrop of a country that has had several setbacks, most of the economic in nature, in the past couple of years because of the pandemic's lingering effects.
“The past two years have been very challenging for all of us because the pandemic exacerbated whatever problem that we have in the past, but we are still here, full, alive and continuing to fight the challenges, and hoping that a brighter tomorrow will come,” the presidential daughter said.
Duterte-Carpio, the chairperson of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), spoke of her and former Senator Marcos's track records, long years in governance and administration, which she said was characterized by wisdom and experience.
Under the lady mayor, Davao City transformed into the fourth most competitive city of the country and is “debt-free".
“Sa aking paglilingkod, ginagawa ko ang natutunan ko mula sa aking mga magulang, dapat panta- pantay ang lahat, walang mayaman, walang mahirap. Walang babae, walang lalake. Walang bata, walang matanda. Lahat tayo ay Pilipino (Under my leadership, I did what was taught to me by my parents, that everybody should be equal, there are no poor or rich people. No women or men. No children or elders. We are all Filipinos)," she said.
Meanwhile, Lakas-CMD President and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez said in a statement Wednesday, Feb. 9 that Filipinos can look forward to a brighter future and a better country under the leadership Duterte-Carpio and Marcos, should they win in the polls.
Romualdez said the mayor's message of unity and hope should give Filipinos something to hope for within the next six years of the pandemic-hit country.
“It is both a premise and a concrete promise of what is to come for the country, of what the people should expect,” the House leader said, noting that Duterte-Carpio and Marcos have already unveiled their plans and programs, which focus on the economy, development, health, efficient services, education, and grassroots improvement.