Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso will revive the shoe industry in Marikina City, and plans to mandate government agencies to buy locally made shoes for public school students and government employees should he be elected as president.
Domagoso, along with his running mate Dr. Willie Ong and their senatorial bets Samira Gutoc, Doctor Carl Balita, and Jopet Sison, visited Gibson Shoe Factory, and held an informal dialogue with the shoe manufacturers and workers on Wednesday.
“Bibilin ng gobyerno ang mga sapatos. ‘Yung mga sapatos nila dapat bilin ng gobyerno katulad ng ginawa ni Congressman Del De Guzman na batas. ‘Yung mga sapatos sa military, sa pulis dito galing lahat. Sana ganun na rin sa mga eskwelahan, sa government offices (The government will buy the shoes. The government should buy the shoes they made like the law Congressman Del De Guzman made. The shoes of military and policemen were all from here. I hope this will be the same with our schools and government offices),” Domagoso said.
He was referring to Republic Act (RA) 9290, or An Act Promoting the Development of the Footwear, Leather Goods and Tannery Industries Development, which was principally authored by Marikina Representative Del De Guzman, who was also the former city mayor of Marikina.
The law recognizes that the footwear, leather goods, and tannery industries have the potential to generate employment through their integrated development, and increase the country’s foreign exchange earnings through exports and import substitutes.
Domagoso and the rest of the Aksyon Demokratiko candidates were personally welcomed by the officers of the Philippine Footwear Federation Inc. (PFFI) headed by its president Antonio “Toni” Andres, De Guzman, and incumbent Marikina City Vice Mayor Doctor Marion Andres.
Former councilors Xyza Diazen-Santos, Mark Del Rosario, Erning Flores, Jojo Banzon, and Marikina Shoe Industry Development Office (MASIDO) head Noel Box were also present.
The visit was organized by Ikaw Muna (IM), one of the largest volunteer groups supporting the presidential bid of the Manila mayor.
Domagoso’s 10-Point Bilis Kilos Economic Agenda, specifically under Labor and Employment, focuses on supporting and reviving the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector. In his administration, it will be his “North Star” to accelerate human and economic growth. (Terence Ranis)