Pacquiao vows decent housing, interest-free loans for Manila vendors if elected president

Sen. Manny Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines — PROMDI presidential candidate Sen. Manny Pacquiao took his campaign in Sta. Mesa, Manila on a train to show the strength of his ground-swelling grassroots support even without the backing of a traditional political machinery.

Taking the PNR train in Makati, Pacquiao and PDP-Laban senatorial candidate Lutz Barbo traveled to Sta. Mesa, Manila to consult with vendors who are constant victims of extortion and clearing operations.

In his talks with the vendors, they shared their stories of hardships to Pacquiao who was also once a street vendor before becoming the world’s only eight- division boxing champion.

Altura Vendors Association president Rosita Ching said that life even got worse when pandemic hit because they had to stop selling due to the quarantine lockdowns.

“Napakahirap po ng kabuhayan namin ngayon. Lalo na ngayong pandemya napakatumal. Sa iyo po kami umaasa,” Ching said.

Mayen Regino, head of the PUP Vendors Association, on the other hand related that after 22 years as a vendor, she lost her only means of livelihood after she and her fellow vendors near the Polytechnic University of the Philippines were forcibly evicted by local government authorities.

“Pwersahan kaming pinaalis. Pinilit kaming umalis. Pag ayaw naming umalis, kinukuha ang tinda namin. Wala naman pong inilaan para mapaglipatan namin, Regino said.

Pacquiao told the vendors that he can fully relate with their hardships because before becoming one of the world’s highest paid athlete, he also used to sell flowers at the Quiapo and Baclaran church to augment his income as a construction worker so that he can support his family.

Aside from selling flowers, Pacquiao also repacked garlic and pepper which he sold to small sari-sari stores.

Pacquiao said the people’s hopelessness and the systemic corruption that is pushing the country to bankruptcy has forced him to run for the country’s highest office. He said he decided to take action because he has grown tired of hearing traditional politicians giving false hopes to Filipinos especially the poor.

Sen. Manny Pacquiao

“Ang dahilan ng paghihirap ng bansa natin, ang pahihirap ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino ay ang korapsyon. Ipapakita ko sa inyo kung paano ko kaladkarin sa kulungan ang mga kawatan sa gobyerno, “ Pacquiao told the vendors.

“Itong laban na to hindi para sa akin ito. Ito ay laban ng bawat Pilipino. Ang gaganda ng mga pangako pero ano ang nangyari? Niloloko lang tayo. Mangangako sila nang mangangako pero wala namang tinutupad, “ he added.

If elected as president, Pacquiao said that his administration will provide free decent homes for all homeless families and extend zero-to-low interest loans for those who want to set up small businesses.

He said that providing capital for vendors and other micro-small and medium enterprises will not only help provide livelihood for millions of jobless Filipinos and but would also trigger a domino effect to perk up the country’s economy.

Pacquiao said that under his administration, he would not allow clearing operations for vendors without any prior relocation program.

He said his program to provide loan facilities for MSMEs is part of his “Health of the Nation” policy platform. HEALTH stands for Housing, Education, Aid and Agriculture, Livelihood, Transportation and Telecommunications and Health.

Sharing his experience after taking the PNR, Pacquiao said President Rodrigo Duterte has a done good job in improving the country’s oldest train system.

Pacquiao said he would pursue Duterte’s program to modernize the country’s rail and mass transport network.

Pacquiao said that if elected president, he would build another rail system on top of the existing one as part of his plan to decongest Metro Manila traffic. The old line will be used for containers and cargo while the elevated rail system will be for commuter trains.

“Railway is the most effective, cheapest, and most environmental friendly mode of moving goods and people. Bibigyan natin ng focus yan, “ Pacquiao said.

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