Isko Moreno vows mass housing, jobs, education for Payatas scavengers

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso

MANILA, Philippines — Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso on Saturday vowed to replicate the housing projects he did in Manila to the rest of the country if he becomes president in 2022.

READ: Isko Moreno: ‘Bilis Kilos’ agenda in Manila doable in entire Philippines

Speaking with residents and barangay officials at the Material and Recovery Facility in Payatas, Quezon City, Moreno also vowed to take care of the future of children living in informal settler communities by providing them with quality education while their parents go to their jobs to earn a decent living.

“Kapag ako ay sinuwerte, kung anong ginawa ko sa Maynila na pabahay ganun din ang gagawin ko sa buong bansa. Maibalik lang ang dignidad sa pamumuhay ng mahirap. Ang maibibigay ko sa inyo kapanatagan ng buhay maitawid lang kayo,” Moreno told a crowd of mostly garbage workers.

Moreno achieved great success in building mass housing projects for the city’s poor residents. Last July, the Manila government awarded 229 townhouse-style units to residents of Baseco in Tondo.

Three vertical housing projects named Tondominium 1, Tondominium 2, and Binondominium are expected to be finished and awarded to residents before the end of the year. Similar vertical housing projects are also being built – the Pedro Gil and San Sebastian Residences.

Once a garbage collector himself, Moreno was greeted by around 300 garbage workers and junk shop operators who are all based in Quezon City.

One of the country’s largest dumpsites was located in Payatas where a “trash slide” 21 years ago left over 200 people dead. The Payatas dumpsite was closed in 2010.

If he wins the 2022 presidential race, Moreno vowed to push for other waste disposal technologies and expand the number of recycling facilities in the country

“Ang gobyerno kaya pataasin ang antas ng pamumuhay ng tao. Ang aalagaan ko kinabukasan ng mga anak ninyo. Kayo naman bibigyan ko kayo ng pagkakataon makapaghanap-buhay,” said Moreno.

During his dialogue with the people of Payatas, the 47-year old Moreno also declared the end of elitist leadership and it’s the time of scavengers to shine and lead the people.

“Tapos na ang panahon ng mga elitista. Basurero naman ngayon,” he told a cheering crowd wearing blue T-shirts with the words “Ako si Isko” in front and “Francisco Isko Moreno Domagoso” at the back.

At one point, Moreno unbuttoned his long sleeves blue shirt, took it off and threw it towards an overly-excited crowd. He later wore a blue T-shirt similar to those worn by the more than 300 Payatas residents who came to listen to the mayor.

A child scavenger before becoming an actor then entering politics in the 1990s, Moreno said that his heart is very close to the experiences of many residents in Payatas as the former Payatas Dumpsite is considered to be the second “Smokey Mountain” in the country.

Citing himself as an example, he also encouraged Payatas residents living in poverty not to lose hope despite hardships and continue to strive hard for a better future in life. He also advised parents to work hard so that they can send their children to school, get a job and lift themselves from poverty.

“Dito naman sa Payatas hindi na kayo bago sa akin. Ika nga, pangalawang Smokey Mountain ang dating Payatas Dumpsite. Sa ganoong kapaligiran ako natuto magsikap at maghanap-buhay,” Moreno said.

“Kaya kayong naparito, huwag na huwag kayong susuko. Okay lang mahirap tayo ngayon, pero hindi kailangan maging mahirap din pag dating ng araw ‘yung mga anak natin. Kaya papag-aralin ninyo sila, iraos ninyo, itawid ninyo, pangalagaan ninyo dahil ‘yung katagumpayan ko ay pwede rin maging katagumpayan ng mga anak ninyo. Nangyari sa akin, pwede rin mangyari sa inyo,” said an emotional Moreno.

The Aksyon Demokratiko president said that under an “Isko Moreno presidency,” the national government will be there to support the people to rise up from the clutches of poverty.

“Basta mga nanay, mga tatay. Eto lang ang bilin ko, mahirap ang buhay. Hindi tayo pinagpala na magkaroon ng magulang na may gintong kutsara sa bibig pero hindi ibig sabihin balewala ang buhay natin sa lipunan. In fact, dapat ang pamahalaan may kaunting diin sa inyo. Katulad ng sinabi ni (Ramon) Magsaysay, dapat may kaunting kiling ang pamahalaan sa inyong pangangailangan,” Moreno said.

Moreno thanked Payatas residents for the warm welcome he received from them. He said that he and the rest of Aksyon Demokratiko candidates will continue to travel around the country to reach as many Filipinos they can to know how they are doing and get their thoughts on the many issues affecting them.

“May awa po ang Diyos, basta po ako mag-iikot kami sa buong Pilipinas. Pipilitin kong maabot ang higit na nakararami sa ating lipunan upang mapakinggan ang katayuan ng mga kababayan,” Moreno said.