FILE PHOTO: Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. INQUIRER FILES
CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija – Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer Isko Moreno Domagoso said the continuing economic crisis exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine conflict has highlighted the need, now more than ever, for government to seriously consider implementing his proposals to cut excise taxes on oil and electricity, and increase funding allocation for “ayuda” or aid to millions of affected Filipinos.
“Lugi sa palay, lugi sa sibuyas, lugi sa pananim. Next week yari na naman tayo, tataas na naman ang gasolina, pero ang sweldo hindi naman tumataas,” Moreno said before thousands of cheering Novo Ecijanos during a town hall meeting at the Freedom Park here.
“Ang pananaw ko sa gobyerno, kapag tao ang inuna mo, hindi ka na magkakamali. Sinabi ko na five months ago na sana, umatras muna ang gobyerno. Bawasan natin ang buwis sa krudo ng 50 percent at buwis sa kuryente ng 50 percent. Ibig sabihin malulugi ng bahagya ang gobyerno, pero kapakinabangan naman ng tao. Sa bawat lugi ng gobyerno, may savings ang tao,” Moreno said.
In an earlier interview in Cabiao town, Moreno praised President Rodrigo Duterte for increasing by 50 percent to P5 billion the fuel subsidy of drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) in the wake of the unabated rise in the prices of petroleum products which is hurting the transport sector.
“I am happy na ito ay ginagawa ni Pangulong Duterte at ng Gabinete. Basta sa kapakinabangan ng tao, I will support it. Salamat sa Pangulo,” Morerno told members of the media before embarking on a day-long motorcade together with running mate Dr. Willie Ong and their senatorial candidates.
“Siyempre, masaya ako para sa mga drivers kasi ‘pag nagawa ng pamahalaan iyan, kahit papaano maibsan iyong pagkalugi sa kita nila pang araw-araw. Makikinabang rin ang mga pasahero dahil sa kahit papaano ay wala munang taas-pasahe,” Moreno added.
In October last year, the 47-year-old presidential candidate was like a “voice in the wilderness” when he appealed for the national government to cut by 50 percent the excise taxes on oil and electricity because of hardships being experienced by everyone, particularly the ordinary people who are most affected by the lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That was even before the Russia-Ukraine conflict erupted.
Moreno said this policy will have higher impact in cushioning the effects of the economic crisis because it will be felt by Filipinos in all social classes.
“Sana nga yung pangkalahatan ang dating, institutionalize natin na umatras muna ang gobyerno. Tingin ko magkakaroon pa ng high impact kapag binawasan natin ng 50 percent ang buwis sa krudo at buwis sa kuryente. Across the board iyon, mayaman, negosyante, empleyado nila, bahay, pamilya and so on and so forth,” he earlier told reporters after a town hall meeting in Cabiao town where he met with more than a thousand residents of this town composed mostly of farmers, public transport drivers and ordinary folks.
Besides the twin tax cuts, Moreno urged the national government to provide affected Filipinos in all sectors with ayuda to ensure that families affected by escalating prices of food and other basic necessities will not go hungry while the national government tries to provide jobs for them.
“How I wish that what we have done in Manila for February and March of this year, mabigyan ko lahat ang buong bansa. How I wish,” the 47-year-old Aksyon Demokratiko presidential candidate said.
Moreno said the national government should look at all possible sources of funds to provide “ayuda” to the reeling masses. “Napakalaking bagay ng ayuda ngayon, with all honesty. But ang katotohanan, hindi pa rin maitatanggi na kailangan talaga ng mga ayuda ng sektor ng driver o sektor ng mga manggagawa a yung bawat pamilya,” he pointed out.
The Manila mayor said it is for this reason that he is in favor of postponing the Dec. 5, 2022 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections so that P8-billion funds allocated for the purpose could be used as ayuda and other urgent needs of the people in these difficult times.
“We really have to cushion the socio-economic impact nitong mga nangyayari sa ating bansa dala ng external situation,” he said.
“As I have said, maghahanap tayo ng paraan kung paano maitatawid ang taong bayan. And one of those is money or resources. So, kung ako ang tatanungin, extend muna natin yoong barangay election by another year, or a year and a half, nang yung perang gagamitin natin sa eleksyon, magamit natin para ipang-ayuda sa tao, katulad nung gasolina, or ipang-ayuda sa pagkain, or ipambili natin ng fertilizer at ipamahagi sa magsasaka,” said Moreno.
If he becomes president, among the funding sources being considered by Moreno is the P203-bilion estate tax debts of the Marcoses.
“The aggregate amount of P203.819 billion, which the Marcos heirs owe the Filipino people, is such a big amount that Mayor Isko, if elected president, promised to give the money as “ayuda” to millions of our countrymen who lost their jobs during the pandemic,” said Aksyon Demokratiko Ernest Ramel in his March 9 letter to the Presidential Commission on Good Government.
In the meantime, Moreno said he, his vice-presidential candidate Doc Willie Ong, Aksyon Demokratiko senatorial bets Dr. Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc and Jopet Sison along with guest senatorial candidate John Castriciones will continue to reach as many Novo Ecijanos as he can in as many places possible during his two-day sortie in the province.
“Pipilitin naming suyuin ang mga Novo Ecijanos. Ako po ay buong kababaang loob na humihingi ng tulong sa inyo. Sana mabigyan niyo kami ng pagkakataon na makapaglingkod naman, maiba naman,” he said.
Prior to Cabanatuan City, Team Isko held a town hall meeting in Cabiao town, and proceeded to the towns of San Isidro, Gapan and San Leonardo where thousands of Novo Ecijanos line up the streets to personally see and touch the hand of Moreno.
Moreno suffered cuts and bruises in his arm and hands as people jostled beside his float to touch him, shake his hands in overflowing endearment. The former basurero who became a Manila councilor, Manila vice mayor and mayor would stop the motorcade a number of times whenever he sees an elderly or disabled person in the crowd. He will then step down the float to comfort these people like what he did in previous motorcades.
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