A day before the observance of International Women’s Day (March 8), Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer Isko Moreno Domagoso paid tribute to the country’s women frontliners who kept the nation safe during the various levels of lockdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic in the last two years.
In his remarks at the Monday flag-raising ceremonies at the Manila City Hall, the 47-year-old city mayor said female medical and health workers as well as the other women frontliners in various fields played a critical role as much as their male counterparts in saving the lives of millions from the deadly virus.
“Ang ating mga frontliners, mga babae at lalaki, nagtulung-tulong upang mapaglabanan natin ang virus. Mga nanay na kailangan iwan pansumandali ang pamilya upang lumabas para makapaglingkod at makapagsalba ng buhay; mga kababaihang hindi inalintana ang panganib na maaring sila o ang kanilang pamilya ay mahawa; at ang ilan nga sa atin ay naimpeksyon na rin,” said Moreno, who was infected with Covid-19 in August last year.
As the Covid-19 situation continues to improve and with Metro Manila and many other places in the country downgraded to the lowest risk classification, the Aksyon Demokratiko presidential bet said their sacrifices have not been in vain.
“To our women frontliners and to all of you today, mukhang nakikita na natin ang bukang-liwayway ng tagumpay ng laban sa pandemyang ito. Sana ay magtuluy-tuloy na po ito para mapanatag na ang lahat. Sa laban ng Maynila kontra Covid, I didn’t do it alone. Kasama ko kayong lahat sa pamahalaang lungsod. I know some of you paid the ultimate price, may mga nalagas sa hanay natin by being with our people, doing their jobs. And some of us also got sick by performing our duties, but I am really proud of our employees- whether causal, JO, or managerial, I am really proud of you,” the local chief executive said.
As the country celebrates the National Women’s Month, Moreno also renewed his commitment to champion gender equality and provide equal opportunities for every Manilenyo, and all Filipinos if given a chance to be president; regardless of social status, sexual preference, religious beliefs or political affiliations.
“Lahat sa Maynila ay pantay-pantay; walang babae, lalaki, bakla o tomboy. Lahat may equal opportunity based on meritocracy. Kapag magaling ka, pweede ka at kapag may maitutulong ka, sama ka. Hindi ko tinitingnan kung ako ang katatayuan mo sa buhay o kung ano ang iyong kasarian. What matters most is what you can do in serving our people,” Moreno pointed out.
Moreno said he is proud to say that almost 99 percent of city hall employees that he promoted or hired were based on merit. “I would say na 99 percent sa inyo ay na-promote, na-permanent o na-appoint dahil sa inyong kakayahan. I didn’t even meet or see you, basta ang aking paggawa ng inyong appointment ay based on merits,” he said.
Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna, the first female vice mayor in Manila City’s 450 years of existence, said the nation’s capital has taken solid steps in gender equality and women empowerment. Proof of this, she said, is that almost 50 percent now of the city halls’ 4,347 employees are women.
“Bukod pa rito, 16 sa 39 na mga pangunahing kagawaran sa ating pamahalaang lungsod ay pawang pinamumunuan ng mga babae. At apat sa anim na mga local hospitals ay pinagangasiwaan ng mga babaeng doctor. Sa Manila City Council, 11 out of 38 councilors naman mga kababaihan,” Lacuna said.
Under Team Isko’s Bilis Kilos 10-Point Economic Agenda, meritocracy will be the guiding principle in all appointments and promotion of personnel and officials in the national government.
Specifically, “Good Governance” calls for the recruitment of honest, competent, progressive, passionate, cooperative, goal-oriented and hardworking government personnel who also value equity, diversity and inclusion in government agencies.
Team Isko is in Tarlac province today for a whole day sortie that will culminate in a Grand Volunteers Rally in Tarlac City at 6 pm. More than 5,000 volunteers and supporters of the Aksyon Demokratiko national candidates are expected to attend the event.
Joining Moreno and his running mate Doc Willie Ong are Aksyon Demokratiko senatorial bets Dr. Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc and Jopet Sison along with guest candidate John Castriciones of PDP-Laban.
Team Isko’s barnstorming of Tarlac’s 1st and 3rd Districts will be a combination of motorcade and town hall meetings. The 1st District is composed of the Ilocano-speaking towns of Paniqui, Camiling and Moncada while the 3rd District is composed of the Kapampangan-speaking towns of Capas, Bamban and Concepcion.
This is the second time that Moreno and his Aksyon Demokratiko slate will be visiting Tarlac province. In October last year, Moreno had dialogs with farmers and fisherfolks in Tarlac City and it was during this “Listening Tour” that he first bared his plan to cut down by 50 percent taxes on fuel and electricity to help tide over those badly affected by the pandemic.
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