Isko Moreno vows to bring development to his mother’s birthplace in Samar

By: Dennis Gutierrez - 3 years ago

Isko Moreno in Northern Samar

ALLEN, Northern Samar, Philippines – Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso on Tuesday fulfilled his promise to visit the birthplace of his mother, and vowed to bring the long-overdue development of Samar if elected president.

Speaking before thousands of Samareños in the municipality of Allen, the Aksyon Demokratiko presidential candidate said he is very happy to have finally visited the town where his mother Rosario Moreno, whom he fondly calls Nanay Chayong, was born.

“Sinabi ko sa campaign team, kung tayo mag-iikot na officially, kung iikot ako sa Visayas, pwede bang makisuyo mauuna ako sa Samar, dito ako magsimula sa lahat ng ikot ko sa Visayas. Para bang homecoming bilang pagbibigay pugay sa mga magulang ko,” Moreno said.

Moreno and his running mate, Doc Willie Ong, as well as Aksyon senatorial candidates Dr. Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc and Jopet Sison, have previously scheduled the Samar visit in December last year, but were forced to postpone because of Typhoon Odette and the subsequent Omicron surge.

The 47-year-old presidential aspirant pointed out that while he was born, raised and started his public service in Tondo, it cannot be denied that the blood running in his veins is 100 percent Bisaya, as his father hails from Antique.

But while he is happy to have finally set foot on the place where his mother was born, he is also sad to see the result of the decades-long neglect from the national government that has made Samar one of the poorest islands in the country, and which forced its residents, like his Nanay Chayong, to seek greener pastures in Manila.

“Bakit pumupunta sa Maynila, marami namang lupain dito, marami namang pwedeng ayusin dito. Napapansin ko, itong Samar, ilang bayan na ang pinuntahan at dinaanan ko, para kayong tinalikuran na ng gobyerno. Pati airport niyo, naawa ako. Saan ka makakakita ng airport, may tumatawid na baka,” Moreno pointed out.

“Tandaan ninyo, the last time, yung huling panahon na may kandidato kayong national ay 1950s pa. Marami na rin kayong naabutang presidente, marami na ring ibinotong senador, pedro tignan niyo ang Samar. Kayo na po ang sumagot, kayo na ang humusga, ayaw ko ng away,” he said.

Given the chance, Moreno vowed to end this decades-long neglect of Samar by pursuing a “Life and Livelihood” economic policy that aims to address poverty, hunger, unemployment, inequality and social injustice through an inclusive and equitable infrastructure development program as spelled out under his 10-point Bilis Kilos Economic Agenda.

“Kami ni Doc Willie, halimbawa palarin ako, si Doc Wilie, yung tatlo naming kasama, sa tulong ng Diyos, at sa tulong ninyo, yung unang dalawang taon sa anim na taon, ang focus lang namin, buhay at kabuhayan. Doon lang,” he said.

In a subsequent media interview, Moreno said among the infrastructure programs he wanted to pursue in the region is to connect Allen, Samar to Matnog, Sorsogon through a 24-kilometer bridge across the San Bernardino Strait, similar to the main bridge connecting Macau and Hong Kong.

“Those are the things that are duplicable that may generate more economic movement for the entire Samar area all the way to Leyte,” he said.

“Kasi pag napagdugtong natin ang Luzon at ang biggest island, which is Samar, gagaan lahat, magmumura ang cost, magkakaroon ng transaction, magkakaroon ng economic movement. Then, there will be jobs and job opportunities para sa mga kababayan natin sa probinsya,” he said.

He said this in line with his goal to infuse more infrastructure development in provinces of Visayas and Mindanao where they are most needed in order to accelerate the economy and bring about a more inclusive and equitable economic growth.

“Like I have said before, a peso spent in Metro Manila will never give us much economic growth because of the principle of the Law of Diminishing Returns. But the same peso na gagastusin ko sa far-flung area, magke-create ito ng economic movement, favorably sa mga dadaanang lugar. So yun ang mga uunahin natin,” said Moreno.

“Then again in the next six years, the first two years nung ating panunungkulan, sa awa ng Diyos at sa tulong ng tao, the first two years, ang focus is life and livelihood. Itatawid muna natin ang taong bayan, ang mamamayan sa pandemyang ito,” he said.

Moreno was welcomed in Allen by Mayor Joey Suan and Vice Mayor Arturo Dubongco Jr., as well as members of the municipal council.

Dubongco later introduced Moreno as “ang ating kababayan, ang nag-iisang Waraynon na kandidato sa pagka-presidente” to wild cheering from the thousands of Allen residents who came to see and hear their “townmate.”

Prior to his visit in Allen, Moreno and his team barnstormed in Calbayog City and Catbalogan City in Western Samar, as well as Catarman in Northern Samar.

And just like what happened in every place that Team Isko visited since Day 1 of the campaign, the Aksyon Demokratiko presidential bet has been mobbed by droves of people – of all ages and of all walks of life – who ignored the heat and rain to express their genuine and unbridled support behind Moreno.

Everywhere Moreno’s motorcade proceeded, thousands of screaming and cheering supporters warmly welcome him with open arms as they jostle for position in the crowded streets, all trying to shake or just touch the hands of the charismatic presidential candidate.

“Masaya kami kasi yung init ng pagtanggap ng buong Samar, nararamdaman mo kahit saan. Kaya pinagpapasalamat ko sa buong probinsya ng Samar. Kahapon nasa Western tayo, ngayon Northern, and we are trying to reach as many people as possible, hopefully in due time,” Moreno said.