Moreno presents 10-point agenda towards economic growth: Main focus is life, livelihood

Francisco Domagoso

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Monday presented his 10-point agenda for economic growth and recovery if he is elected president, vowing to focus on life and livelihood amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Moreno mentioned 10 sectors that his administration would focus on, should he win in the 2022 national elections:

Housing
Education
Labor and employment
Health
Tourism and the creative industry
Infrastructures
Digital transformation and industry 4.0
Agriculture
Good governance
Smart governance

When asked what would be his priority in the 10-point agenda, the Mayor pointed to life and livelihood encompassing various pointers of his plan.

“Again, as you all know, life and livelihood will be the main focus and immediately will be attended to (if), may awa ang Diyos, palarin kami ni Doc Willie. So ‘yoong kasalukuyang sitwasyon, there’s continuing threat or presence of COVID-19,” Moreno told reporters at his campaign headquarters in Intramuros, Manila.

“We will continue to look at it seriously to address it, para mapapapanatag natin ‘yong ating mga kababayan na matuto tayong makapamuhay nang may COVID-19, at the same time, ‘yong kabuhayan dahil mararamdaman na natin ‘yong epekto ng post-COVID, economically speaking,” he added.

Moreno cited the case of rising fertilizer prices, which he fears that coupled with the pandemic, would have a dire economic impact in the coming months.

“In fact sinisiyasat ko nga ‘yong nabalitaan ko noong isang araw na ‘yong presyo ng fertilizer at P900 plus a year ago, less than 24 months, P2,000 plus na ang presyo ng fertilizer.  And this will affect the cost of food production — kawawa dito ‘yong mga magsasaka.  Pangalawa ‘yong consumer.  So that’s why job opportunity must be made available, a lot of businesses lost their business,” he said.

“If it is true that it has been a year now na tumataas ‘yong presyo ng fertilizer, so talagang mararamdaman natin ‘yong post-economic, bad economic effect of the pandemic.  Kaya life and livelihood ang mararamadaman ninyong una naming pagtutuunan ni Doc Willie at sampu ng aking mga kasamang senador in the next two years.  Then alongside with it, the minimum basic needs,” he added.

Moreno, who is running on a platform of quick action towards the country’s problems, is one of the presidential aspirants in the 2022 national elections. The local chief executive promises to replicate what he achieved in Manila nationwide if he wins in 2022.

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