Presidential hopeful and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said the primary goal of his run for the presidency is to help Filipinos recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
During the CNN Philippines Presidential Debates on Sunday, Feb. 27, all presidential candidates were asked how quickly can Filipinos feel their leadership if they get elected.
“Well, I get things done. I don’t have to give a time frame. Since time immemorial, pag ako po’y pumapasok sa gobyerno (whenever I take part in the government) I really try to excel in every field of undertaking,” the Manila mayor said in response.
“Ang hirap ng buhay. Tataas ang gasolina, tataas ang bilihin, yun bang maramdaman ninyo na may gobyerno kayong maaasahan, masasandalan. Yun po ang pangarap ko sa inyo. Makatawid tayo, makaraos tayo sa pandemyang ito (Life is hard. The price of gasoline will go up, the price of goods will go up. I just want to make you feel that you have a government you can rely on. That is my dream for you. We can survive this pandemic). Then there will be certainty and predictability in our policy, sa ating pamamahala (in our governance),” he added.
Domagoso also said that helping Filipinos recover from the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic was the main reason he decided to run for the highest post.
“Alam mo, itong pandemic (You know this pandemic), it teaches us a lot of lessons in life, even priorities in life. Sa ’kin, ang importante, kayong mga kababayan, paano kayo makakatawid sa pandemyang ito? Paano tayo makapagbibigay ng trabaho dun sa apat na milyong trabahanteng nawalan ng trabaho. Yung maliliit na negosyanteng nagsara, paano makaka-recover? (What’s important to me are you, my countrymen, and how you can survive this pandemic. How can we provide employment to the four million workers who lost their jobs. The small businesses that closed down, how can they recover?),” he said.
Citing his accomplishments, including providing aid to 700,000 families in the city as well as the construction of several housing projects, hospitals, and school buildings, Domagoso confidently said he is more than ready to become the country’s next president.
“Of all the ideas of my colleagues here, magaganda ang layunin pero (all have good objectives but) we have to do and show proof of our concept, of ideas and policy. What we have done in Manila, naitawid namin ang 700,000 families.. (We helped 700,000 families) We economically grew despite these challenges. These are the things that are duplicable, scalable),” he said.
Domagoso also appealed to the public to not separate him from his running mate, vice presidential aspirant Dr. Willie Ong, who is a health expert.
“With the help of Doc Willie at may awa ang Diyos, sana ho, 'wag niyo kaming paghiwalayin ni Doc. Willie. Talagang focus namin ang life and livelihood in the first two years of our term (With God's mercy, I hope you don't separate me and Doc Willie. We will really focus on life and livelihood in the first two years of our term),” he stressed.
Under their 10-Point Bilis Kilos Economic Agenda, the Domagoso-Ong tandem vowed to address the problems of poverty, hunger, unemployment, inequality, and social injustice in the country should they get elected.