Pacquiao favors easing Metro Manila to Alert Level 1

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday said he favors placing Metro Manila under Alert Level 1, saying God continues to hear the prayers of Filipinos against COVID-19.

He made the remark after Metro Manila mayors unanimously voted recommending to the national government downgrading the alert level status on the metropolis to the least restrictive Alert Level 1 by March 1, according to Metro Manila Council chairman and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

“Ako okay lang. Wala naman na. Nadinig ‘yung mga dalangin sa Panginoon at tuloy tuloy tayo, magdasal tayo, magkaisa tayo para sa ating bansa. Hindi lamang sa pangsarili natin kung di sa kapakanan ng bansa,” he said in an interview in Cubao, Quezon City.

(For me, it’s okay. The Lord has heard our prayers. Let’s pray and let’s be united for the country. Not only for ourselves but for the sake of the country.)

He, however, urged the public to remain vigilant and not be complacent when the government decides to place Metro Manila under Alert Level 1.

“Maging maingat pa rin tayo pagdating ng March 1, kung mag Level 1 na. Huwag tayong mag kumpiyansa pa rin pero ingat na lang tayo,” he said.

(Let’s still be careful if we’re already under Alert Level 1 by March 1. Let’s not be complacent.)

Pacquiao, as part of his campaign, visited two markets in Metro Manila — the Balintawak public market and Farmer’s Market in Cubao — to inspect the current prices of basic goods and to determine if ordinary Filipinos can still afford to buy them.

He shopped with a budget of P5,000 to buy a month’s worth of basic goods for one family, basing the amount on the minimum wage of P13,000.

He bought vegetables, fish such as tilapia and galunggong and other staples, including some fruits and chicken. He was only left with P2, noting that he was no longer able to buy pork or beef with his budget.

With the supplies that he bought, Pacquiao said it would only last for 20 days for a family of four.

“Kung isang buwan na pagkain siguro mahirapan ang isang pamilya kung dalawang anak, mag-asawa silang kakain. Mukhang mahihirapan sila,” he said.

(If this is for one month, a family would have difficulty in budgeting P5,000 for food.)

“Volume na nga ang ginawa ko pero hindi talaga sapat para sa isang buwan. Paano pa kaya iyong mahihirap nating kababayan na kung mamili ay tingi-tingi lang,” he added.

(I bought by volume but this is still not enough for one month. What more for Filipinos who can only buy retail?)

With this, he said he will push for an across-the-board increase in the minimum wage so that the earnings of the common workers would be able to cope with inflation and the high cost of prime commodities.

He said he would also push for the equalization of salaries nationwide, effectively removing the function of the regional wage boards.

Pacquiao said the move would also hinder Filipinos outside of Metro Manila to go to the metro in search of higher wages.

He would also push for incentives for businessmen to be encouraged to establish their businesses in provinces.

The boxer-turned-politician likewise raised the need to focus on production, distribution, and consumption, to implement the right policies that would address the problems of hunger and food security. He said the government should make sure that every Filipino household has enough food on the table.

“Kailangan nating matugunan ito dahil hangga’t hindi natin nalulutas ang problema sa kakulangan ng pagkain at maging ang kawalan ng tirahan ay hindi natin masasabing tunay ngang naibigay ng pamahalaan and serbisyong inaasahan ng mamamayan,” he said.

(We need to address this because as long as we haven’t solved the lack of food and the lack of housing, we can’t say that the government is giving the service its people deserve.)

/MUF