Isko Moreno tells Malabon City residents: No other goal but to uplift lives of Filipinos

MANILA, Philippines — Aspiring president Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Thursday said that in all of his 23 years in public service, his only goal now is to improve the lives of the Filipino people.

During the latest leg of his team’s “Listening Tour” in Malabon City, Moreno reiterated his plans to bring immediate relief to the people by reducing the fuel and electricity excise by 50 percent. Moreno and his running mate Dr. Willie Ong and others in his team were also scheduled to visit Navotas City later in the afternoon.

In Barangay Catmon, Malabon City, Moreno again laid out his plans for the country if ever he and Ong win next year’s national elections.

The 47-year-old Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer vowed that if elected president, he will give the people a government that focuses on the plight of the ordinary people and a government that listens and cares for their needs.

“Mga kababayan, basta po ako sa totoo lang wala na akong ninais sa buong buhay ko, 23 years in public service. Wala na akong ninais kundi paano pataasin ang antas nang pamumuhay ng tao. Sa inyo lang ako kumukuha ng lakas ng loob,” Moreno said.

“Lahat ng paghihirap ninyo na makumbinse ang mga kakilala ninyo, kapitbahay ninyo, kamag-anak ninyo, susuklian ko nang mainam, masinop at episyenteng gobyerno. Kung ano ang nangyari sa Maynila ay ating gagawin sa buong bansa,” he added.

To achieve a government for the people, Moreno said his administration would prioritize providing the minimum basic needs – food, housing, health, education, and jobs.

He also said anew that cutting fuel and electricity taxes by 50 percent would mean more food on the people’s table since it would likewise provide extra savings and boost the buying power of the people.

Moreno noted that while the twin tax reduction may result in some P130 billion in revenue losses to the government, the move will ease the plight of the poor and provide them the ability to survive the pandemic in the next two years.

“Unang-una sa tulong ninyo, ang unang-una kong gagawin… sa tulong ninyo nagtagumpay tayo babawasan ko ng 50 percent ang buwis ng petrolyo. Pangalawa, para dere-deretso na, babawasan ko ng 50 percent ang buwis ng kuryente,” he told residents of Malabon City.

At the same time, Moreno promised to build more modernized public housing, public hospitals, and public-school buildings around the country, like what he did in the capital city of Manila.

Under the leadership of Moreno, the City Government of Manila has built vertical housing units like Tondominium and Binondominium, modern public hospitals like the Bagong Ospital ng Maynila and the Corazon C. Aquino General Hospital, a COVID Field Hospital, and 10-story modern public school buildings.

“’Yung mga walang bahay dito. Bumabyahe ba kayo ng R-10, papunta n Pier? ‘Di ba paglampas mo ng Smokey Mountain may tinatayong dalawang malaking condominium? Nakita ninyo ‘yun? Gusto ninyo mangyari ‘yun sa Malabon?” Moreno asked.

“Hindi ba ninyo napansin, ano mga pinatayo natin? Pabahay, ospital, eskwelahan. Sino nakikinabang dun? Taongbayan. Gusto ba ninyo mangyari iyon sa Malabon? May awa ang Diyos,” he added.

Moreno, however, cautioned Malabon City residents not to fall prey on traditional politicians who will promise anything or everything just for them to get votes during elections.

“Alam ninyo, maraming nangangako ngayon. Rally-rally 500 pesos, 300 pesos. Moto-motorcade P1, 500 pero tandaan ninyo mga kababayan, anim na taon ng buhay ng mga anak ninyo. Huwag na ninyo isipin ang sa inyo, mga anak na lang natin. Katulad ng yaman, ang kahirapan eh namamana din. Kaya sa kanila na lang ang isipin ninyo, na meron kayong nasisilungan, wala kayong kaba-kaba,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ong assured that if he and Moreno win in the May 2022 polls, they will give priority to the improvement of health care in the country.

“Hindi po ako masaya na ang nabibigay ko sa inyo ay payo lang dahil ang kailangan ninyo po ngayon yung libreng gamot sa high-blood, libreng gamot sa diabetes, kailangan ninyo ng insulin, kailangan libreng dialysis, libreng blood test, urinalysis, libreng ultra-sound, 2D Echo, ECG at ‘yung mga operasyon na nalulungkot ako at hindi ko maibigay dati. Pero ngayon sa tulong ngayon ni Mayor Isko Moreno maibibigay na natin,” he said.

The 58-year-old cardiologist and internist further pledged to prioritize the construction of a Cancer Center of the Philippines (CCP) to help treat and care for poor people suffering from cancer.

Prior to the dialogue, Moreno paid a courtesy call on Malabon City Mayor Len-Len Oreta and other officials at the city hall.