Presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno Domagoso on Tuesday, Feb. 15, vowed to pursue the long-overdue development of Samar if elected president.

“Bakit pumupunta sa Maynila, marami namang lupain dito, marami namang pwedeng ayusin dito. Napapansin ko, itong Samar, ilang bayan na ang pinuntahan at dinaanan ko, para kayong tinalikuran na ng gobyerno. Pati airport niyo, naawa ako. Saan ka makakakita ng airport, may tumatawid na baka (Why go to Manila, there is a lot of land here, there is a lot that can be fixed here. I noticed this in Samar and I have been to several towns, it's as if the government has turned its back on you. Even your airport, I feel sorry for you. Where else can you find an airport where there is a cow crossing?),” Domagoso said during his visit to the municipality of Allen.

Domagoso said he wants to end the decades-long neglect of Samar by addressing poverty, hunger, unemployment, inequality, and social injustice in the province.

Among the infrastructure programs Domagoso wanted to pursue in the region is to connect Allen, Samar to Matnog, Sorsogon through a 24-kilometer bridge across the San Bernardino Strait.

“Those are the things that are duplicable that may generate more economic movement for the entire Samar area all the way to Leyte,” he said.

“Kasi pag napagdugtong natin ang Luzon at ang biggest island, which is Samar, gagaan lahat, magmumura ang cost, magkakaroon ng transaction, magkakaroon ng economic movement (If we connect Luzon and Samar, the cost will be reduced, there will be transactions, there will be economic movements). Then, there will be jobs and job opportunities para sa mga kababayan natin sa probinsya (for our countrymen in the province),” he said.

Domagoso had earlier vowed that he would boost infrastructure development in Visayas and Mindanao if he wins the presidency.

He believes that by accelerating infrastructure development, it “will not only accelerate economic growth, but will also accelerate the reduction of inequality among Filipinos.”

The Manila mayor also said his first two years, if elected, will focus on life and livelihood. “Itatawid muna natin ang taong bayan, ang mamamayan sa pandemyang ito (We will first help the people recover from this pandemic).

During his tour of the province, Domagoso said he had also fulfilled his promise to visit the birthplace of his mother.

“Sinabi ko sa campaign team, kung tayo mag-iikot na officially, kung iikot ako sa Visayas, pwede bang makisuyo mauuna ako sa Samar, dito ako magsimula sa lahat ng ikot ko sa Visayas. Para bang homecoming bilang pagbibigay pugay sa mga magulang ko (I told the campaign team that if we are going to tour officially, if I am going to tour in the Visayas, can you let me visit Samar first, I will start there my Visayas sortie. It will be like a homecoming for me and a tribute to my parents),” he said.

Domagoso’s mother, Rosario “Nanay Chayong” Moreno hailed from the town of Allen, Northern Samar, while his father, Joaquin Domagoso, was from Antique in Panay island.

Domagoso, along with his running mate and vice presidential aspirant Dr. Willie Ong and Askyon Demokratiko senatorial slate, were welcomed in Allen by Mayor Joey Suan, Vice Mayor Arturo Dubongco Jr., and members of the municipal council.

They also visited Calbayog City and Catbalogan City in Western Samar and Catarman in Northern Samar.

Domagoso was originally scheduled to visit Samar last year but it was postponed due to Typhoon Odette and the surge in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant.