Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. FILE PHOTO
BALANGA CITY, Bataan — Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Wednesday vowed to connect the provinces of Bataan, Cavite, and Batangas as he assured that he will continue the “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) program of the Duterte administration.
“We will continue the ‘Build, Build, Build’. But in our case, habang tinuloy ‘yung mga sinimulan na, tayo naman, mag-build, build, build tayo: build more schools, build more hospitals, build more industry, build more jobs and build the bridge from Bataan to Corregidor, to Batangas and Cavite,” said the Aksyon Demokratiko presidential candidate.
Moreno announced his plans before local officials and employees of the Bataan provincial capitol in this city. Governor Albert Garcia personally welcomed the Manila City mayor, who came with his runningmate, vice presidential candidate Dr. Willie Ong, and three senatorial bets, Dr. Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc, and Jopet Sison.
The Aksyon Demokratiko candidates were in Bataan to meet with farmers and fisherfolks as part of their “Listening Tour” to determine the real state of people in rural areas.
Moreno said linking Bataan to Cavite and Batangas would result in faster transport and easier exchange of goods between the three provinces.
“’Yung pinapangarap ninyo na magdugtong ang dalawang dulo ng Batangas, Cavite, Bataan, hindi na siya imposible,” said Moreno.
The Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge being built on Manila Bay. It is seen to reduce travel time from Bataan to Cavite from five hours to 40 minutes.
The project being undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was estimated to cost P175.7 billion. It is a priority project under the government’s BBB program, which aims to spur economic growth through increased investments in public infrastructure.
Moreno then recounted his recent visit to Cebu province where he saw the 8.9-kilometer Cebu-Cordova Bridge connecting Mactan Island to Mainland Cebu.
“Pwede pala, kaya pala. Kaya sa inyo, hindi na kayo mata-trapik sa Metro Manila kung pupunta kayo sa Batangas, pupunta kayo ng Cavite, kahit dito na lang kayo sa Mariveles road, dire-dire-direstso lang kayo,” he said.
The 47-year-old presidential aspirant said construction of the linkage may be costly – roughly around P175 billion – but believes its benefits far outweigh the monetary value.
“Mura lang ‘yon. Kasi walang halagang maitutumbas ang kagaangang maibibigay sa bawat tao ng mga bagay na ginagawa ng gobyerno. Kaya kahit gaano kamahal sa mata natin, sa kwentada natin, mura ‘yan sa kapakinabangn ng tao. Tao muna ang mauna sa pamahalaan ko,” Moreno said.
Besides the Bataan-Cavite-Batangas link, Moreno said he plans to build bridges across major islands of the Philippine archipelago. For him, this endeavor will not only facilitate the exchange of goods and services but also serve as tourism circuits and highways as spelled out under the Bilis Kilos 10-Point Agenda for Governance under an Isko Moreno presidency.
“We will also continue to support the economic zone to provide more jobs and industry,” Moreno said.
To ease the plight of farmers and fisherfolk, as well as protect businesses and jobs, Moreno said he will cut taxes on oil and electricity by 50 percent.
While this may reduce government revenue by about P130 billion, he said the same amount would immediately benefit the people in terms of savings – which will eventually go back to the government because people will spend more due to their stronger purchasing power.
“Nagparaya ang gobyerno at inuna ang tao. Ganon ang ginawa namin sa Maynila.Hindi kami yumaman pero gumaan ang pamumuhay ng tao sa loob ng pandemya sa loob ng dalawang taon. Kung nagawa sa Maynila, kayang gawin sa buong bansa,” he said.
Governor Garcia thanked Moreno for visiting Bataan, and for his invaluable efforts to help the province respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Siya po ang tumulong sa atin na maset-up ‘yung ating cold chain facility dito sa Kapitolyo. Kaya naman outside of Metro Manila, inuna naman ang Bataan sa supply ng bakuna, at kaya outside of NCR, nangunguna ang Bataan sa pagbabakuna sa mga kababayan. Tinulungan din po tayo ni Mayor Isko na makakuha ng mga gamot laban sa COVID-19,” said Garcia.