House Committee on Ways and Means Chair Rep. Joey Salceda has not only doubled down on his endorsement of a Vice President Leni Robredo and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte tandem; he also made several suggestions for economic development that the two could enact if elected.
“If you want a good economy, vote for Robredo-Duterte. will argue for certain candidates, as an economist, as a legislator, and as someone who has recently turned a senior citizen, who wants to leave a better country for the next generations,” the Albay representative said during a Mindanao tour on Monday, March 21.
He then made three suggestions that he thinks the “RoSa” (Robredo-Sara) tandem should enact if elected in the 2022 polls, specifically in Bicol and in Mindanao where VP Robredo and Duterte hail from respectively.
First, the completion of two major Philippine railways.
“I ask RoSa to complete the PNR line to Bicol and the Mindanao Railway. These two lines will change the game for our people, especially farmers,” he said.
Second, he suggested a “war on poverty” in Bicol and Mindanao.
“We have managed to create pockets of prosperity, such as VP Leni’s Naga City, in my own province of Albay, and in Mayor Sara’s Davao City. But we need to do more,” Salceda explained.
Last, he said that the pair must focus on developing the agricultural industry.
“Bicol has seen its abaca growing sector decimated in the past. Its coconut industry has declined. Mindanao’s bananas are under threat of disease, and its corn has extremely limited markets. These are crops where the country was globally competitive in the past. Through decades of neglect and failure to innovate, we have lost our edge in these areas. These are cash crops, bound for export. If we are going to earn our dollars and lift farmers out of poverty, we need renewed commitment to developing these sectors,” Salceda said.
Salceda previously endorsed both VP Robredo’s and Duterte’s campaigns.
VP Robredo is running for the highest post in the land alongside running mate Senator Kiko Pangilinan. Meanwhile, Duterte is running for the vice presidency alongside presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr under the UniTeam banner.