De Guzman, Bello vow end to neoliberalism, build PH its own industry

This is a combination photo of presidential candidate Leody De Guzman (left) and vice-presidential candidate Walden Bello. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — If elected, the tandem of Leody de Guzman and Walden Bello, who are vying for president and vice president, respectively, vowed to end neoliberalism measures in the country.

The tandem likewise said Thursday that they will open and build the Philippines its own industry.

“Tingin ko ang pinaka-legacy na maiiwan namin ay ‘yung pagbubukas at pagtatayo muli ng sariling industriya ng Pilipinas at ang pagpapaunlad ng ating kanayunan bilang base ng pagbangon ng ating bansa dito sa kinasadlakang krisis. Kinakailangang baguhin ‘yung ating patakaran na dating ginawa nung mga nagdaang presidente at administrasyon,” said de Guzman during the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands forum.

(I think the legacy that we will leave is the opening and building of the Philippines’ own industry and improving the countryside as the basis of recovery from the crisis. We need to change our policies which were done by previous presidents and administrations.)

“Mula du’n sa pagiging neoliberal na patakaran, inuuna ‘yung interes ng mga nasa tuktok ng lipunan, at doon nabubulsa ang lahat lahat ng yamang nilikha ng mga Pilipino, ikalat natin ‘yun sa bulsa ng mamamayang Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng pagpapa-unlad ng ating kanayunan, ng mga buhay ng mga magsasaka, ng mga manggagawa, at pagkakaroon natin ng sariling industriyang magiging atin,” the labor leader further explained.

(From neoliberalism policies, which put the interests of those at top first and those who pocket the wealth created by Filipinos, we should distribute it to the pockets of Filipino citizens through improvement of the countryside, lives of farmers and workers, and having an industry that we can call our own.)

He said that their planned move would pave the way for creation of jobs which have dignity.

Bello, meanwhile, said that aside from hiking the minimum wage, they will push for full union rights.

Currently, the daily minimum wage in Metro Manila is P500 to P537.

“‘Yung legacy namin ni Ka Leody will be doon sa relations between capital and labor. Talagang kailangan lang na hindi lang ‘yung P750 minimum wage pero kailangan din na full union rights, and kung maari in many firms, ‘yung workers management together with the management of the factories and enterprises, we need to have that go-together at this point,” Bello pointed out.

(Ka Leody and my legacy will be in the relations between capital and labor. Aside from the P750 minimum wage that we aim for, we also need full union rights, and if possible, in many firms, the workers management together with the management of the factories and enterprises, we need to have that go-together at this point.)

“Finally, we want to be the administration that will turn the country around by ending all these neoliberal measures that have destroyed our self-reliance and our integrity as an economy and we can focus back on building our country,” he continued.

Massive plastic collection

During the same forum, de Guzman was quizzed what his solutions are on plastic wastes, specifically sachets, which are purchased mostly by the poor.

“Sa ngayon, wala akong nakikitang iba pang alternative na pwedeng gamitin sa plastic o pwede bang gawin nating bote na lang lagi?,” he responded.

(As of now, we do not see any alternative for plastic, or can we use bottles instead?)

“Pero pwede naman ‘yan maging massive ‘yung ating collection, ‘yung segregation at collection, at i-recycle natin ‘yung mga plastic para hindi naman tumambak nang tumambak du’n sa dagat, sa lawa, sa mga ilog ‘yung mga plastic na ‘yan,” added the Guzman.

(But, what we can do is initiate a massive plastic collection, segregation, and recycling so that it will not pile up on seas, lakes, and rivers.)

De Guzman and Bello are running under the Partido Lakas ng Masa for the May 9 elections.

EDV