Right after the elections, presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo plans to go back to work and help turn the picturesque Malamawi Island in Basilan into a tourist site.
She gushed at the white sand and blue waters of the island, and lamented that she didn’t bring her daughters with her since they are now in Zamboanga to prepare for the people’s rally there later.
“Sobrang ganda ng inyong lugar na (sa) tingin po natin, 'yung mga kababayan natin na naghahanap ng bagong pupuntahan, grabe talaga 'yung makikita sa Basilan. Ang kabutihan lang po nito, pag meron kasing mga pumupunta dito, nakakadagdag 'yun sa hanapbuhay ninyo (Your place is so beautiful, our fellowmen who are looking for new places to go, it’s incredible what to see in Basilan. The good thing here, if there are people going here, that adds to your livelihood),” Robredo told the community members in Barangay Marang Marang in Malamawi Island.
The Vice President made a side trip to the island since she had free time this morning before she went to Zamboanga for a series of events.
She lauded the floating cottage on the island, which tourists call a hidden gem in Mindanao, and said these are the points of interest that visitors would love to experience.
The aspiring president noted the many changes in Basilan and how all of them are leading to “peace.”
“Kaya sana, tuloy tuloy na ito, pagtulong-tulungan po natin (That’s why it should be continuous, let’s work together),” Robredo said.
However, because of the campaign season, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) is not allowed to release funds to help the community there. She joked that the people should bring Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman to task if she cannot go back there and fulfill her promises.
“Ang problema lang po ngayon, bawal po na maglabas kami ng pondo dahil eleksyon pero pagkatapos po ng eleksyon, Vice President pa naman po ako hanggang June 30, so baka puwede nating mahabol (The only problem now is we cannot release funds because of the election but after the election, I am still Vice President until June 30, so we might be able to pass it),” she explained.
“Kaya pagkatapos na pagkatapos po ng eleksyon, puwede po 'yung paperwork gagawin na natin ngayon pero mapo-process natin 'yun pagkatapos ng eleksyon (That’s why right after the election, we can go the paperwork now so we can process after the election),” Robredo added.
She also promised to look for livelihood projects for the women in the community so they can earn for themselves and their families.
Robredo said she it’s good that her staff visited and reported to her about the community’s concerns as the end of the election period nears.
Malamawi Island is a small inhabited island off the coast of Basilan that’s famous for its long stretch of white sandy beach. Travel time from Isabela City is around 10 minutes via a passenger boat. To get to the island, visitors need to take a "habal-habal" or single motorcycle.
The presidential candidate also attended the Basilan Women Executives and Legislators (BWEL) Summit in Isabela City to deliver a keynote message there.
Citing an old saying that helping women equates to helping a whole community, she called on the women attendees there to come together and build stronger alliances.
“Kasi paniniwala ko (Because in my belief), when women work together, mas malakas 'yung loob natin, mas napapansin tayo dahil magkakasama tayo, mas nabibigyan tayo ng pansin dahil nakikita kung gaano din kalakas 'yung ating samahan (we are stronger, we get noticed when we are together, we get noticed because our strength together is being seen),” Robredo said.
The Vice President shared her dream of one day not needing to celebrate Women’s Month because “everyday of our lives, women are already valued in the manner that we deserve.”
After the event, Robredo visited the Sindangan Municipal Hall for a meet-and-greet even with the barangay captains and councilors while a people’s rally was held at the Cultural Center in Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte.
Robredo will cap her visit with a people’s rally at the Climaco Freedom Park in Zamboanga City where she will be introduced by Mayor Maria Isabelle “Beng” Climaco-Salazar, one of the first local executives to express support for the Vice President’s Malacañang bid.