Isko Moreno brings ‘listening tour’ to Laguna, wins support of ex-governor Lazaro

(Photo from Isko Moreno’s Facebook page)

MANILA, Philippines — Former Laguna Governor Teresita “Ningning” Lazaro endorsed this week the presidential bid of Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno.

Lazaro personally expressed her support for Moreno before 100 members of the Pederasyon ng Kababaihang Lingkod ng Bayan Pilipinas (PKLBP) as she celebrated her 79th birthday in Calamba City.

The 47-year old presidential bet was accompanied by Lazaro in his visit to the Southern Tagalog province Thursday afternoon where he took time out from his busy schedule to personally greet Lazaro as well as meet the members of the PKLBP.

Photos posted on Moreno’s personal Facebook page showed him being warmly received by Lazaro’s friends and supporters, most of them politely requesting a group photo with the Aksyon Demokratiko president.

Speaking before members of the PKLBP, Moreno shared his platform of government and vision for the country if he emerged victorious in next year’s polls.

In his “Listening Tour” that brought him to Central Luzon, Cebu, Oriental Mindoro, and Southern Tagalog, Moreno vowed to cut by 50 percent taxes on oil and electricity to ease the economic hardships of ordinary Filipinos particularly farmers and fisherfolk. He also vowed to address joblessness, end hunger and insurgency and improve food security in the country.

On Friday,  Moreno, his running mate Dr. Willie Ong and senatorial bets Moro civic leader and women’s rights advocate Samira Gutoc, former Quezon City councilor Jopet Sison and radio host and entrepreneur Carl Balita visited the towns of Calauan and Sta. Cruz in Laguna.

In Calauan, Moreno vowed to impose a three-year moratorium on the conversion of agricultural lands as he spoke before 400 farmers, rice millers, and traders at the Masagana Rice Mills.

“Food security is the number one threat to national security. Pag pinag-uusapan ay pagkain at mga maliliit na magsasaka, mahalaga dito ang lupa. Kung ginawa mong subdivision ang sakahan, our food security is in peril,” the Aksyon Demokratiko presidential candidate said.

If elected president, Moreno said he will immediately sign an executive order that will stop the rampant and unchecked conversion of prime agricultural lands into other uses, such as in many cases, subdivisions, to protect the remaining agricultural lands in the country, and protect and ensure the welfare of farmers

Moreno also deplored that National Land Use Act has been pending in Congress for the past 33 years, but no action has been done.

The proposed NLUA creates a national land-use authority that will draft and oversee a national land-use plan that will classify land according to use: protection (for conservation), production (for agriculture and fisheries), settlements development (for residential purposes), and infrastructure development (for transportation, communication, water resources, social infrastructure).

It seeks to establish clear parameters on land utilization and thus limit the capacity of developers to find land for their housing and commercial projects.

“While we will certify its passage into law, as a basis for proper zoning procedures, I will impose a moratorium on agricultural land conversion through an executive order to be implemented by the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources), DAR (Department of Agrarian Reform) and local government units,” said Moreno.

“Sisiguruhin ng batas na ito na ang agricultural lands ay hindi mako-convert sa ibang pagga-gamitan,” he added.

/MUF