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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Marcos makes another promise to Bicolanos ahead of campaign visit

Marcos makes another promise to Bicolanos ahead of campaign visit

Published Mar 2, 2022 10:51 am

Presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has apparently doubled down on wooing voters from Bicol, a known bailiwick of his main poll rival Vice President Leni Robredo, after making another promise for people in the region.

In a press release on Wednesday, March 2, Marcos Jr. vowed to revive the old glory of the so-called "Bicol Express" as he said there is a need to improve the local transportation system.

Noel Pabalate/MANILA BULLETIN

Bicol Express, which is now the name of a popular dish from the region, initially referred to the Manila-Bicol route of the Philippine National Railway (PNR) before it halted its operations due to various issues, including the deterioration of trains.

"Sa paglipas ng panahon ay naging palasak na lang ang katagang ito na tumutukoy sa pangunahing sistema ng transportasyon (As time passed by, the term Bicol Express has become commonplace when it came to transportation)," he said.

"Ibabalik natin ang ‘Bicol Express’ nang higit na maayos at epektibo sa panahon ng ating panunungkulan (We will bring back the Bicol Express. It will be better and effective if I'm given the chance to serve),” he vowed.

This is the second time that the survey frontrunner made a promise to the region, even as he has yet to physically step foot there.

On Monday, Marcos Jr. vowed to end the years-long brownout problem in certain parts of Bicol if amd when he gets elected as president.

He even commiserated with those who do not have access to electricity by saying he "feels the intolerable hardship that the Bicolanos are experiencing because of the endless brownout, which had been prevalent in the region for almost a decade".

Marcos Jr. said he plans to use "natural sources of energy", including wind mills, and that he would shun coal and fossil fuels. He said an advantage of renewable energy is that it's "always available".

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Bongbong Marcos promise Bicol Bicol Express Bicolanos 30222
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