Photo of Koronadal city sortie of VP Leni Robredo, 15 March 2022–Photo by Allen V. Estabillo
KORONADAL CITY — Vice President Leni Robredo cited the young people’s zeal for change in the country for driving an emerging brand of volunteerism that has propelled her campaign across the country in the past several weeks.
Speaking before around 2,000 supporters in a multisectoral people’s rally at the Rizal Park here on Tuesday afternoon, Robredo said they have been witnessing a trend in the ongoing campaign that was not seen in her 2013 and 2016 electoral bids.
She said they did not experience it even during the six-year stint as mayor of Naga City of her late husband, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.
“For the first time mula nung pumasok kami sa pulitika, ngayon ko ulit nakikita kung gaano ka-invested lalo na ang mga kabataan…Napakaraming sinasakripisyo sa paniniwala na ang eleksyong ito ay hindi lang naman patungkol sa aming mga kandidato, pero ang eleksyon na ‘to, eto ‘yung kinabukasan ninyo,” she said.
Robredo said these have been resulting in changes that are not coming from them but from the people.
“Ito gusto namin na pamamahala at pulitika, ‘yung ‘di lang lider ang mahusay, ‘yung tao na nakapaligid mas mahusay pa,” she added.
The Vice President assured a brand of governance that will ensure that all people will have a voice and be heard.
READ: Leni Robredo to Negrenses: Strength of people’s campaign is real unity
In the last six years as vice president, she said her office made it a point to deliver the kind of service that people really needed and deserved.
She cited various socio-economic projects that they implemented these past years for poor communities in the municipalities of Lake Sebu, Polomolok, and Tampakan in South Cotabato.
“When we promised that we would take care of you, that’s what we did,” Robredo said.
READ: 2020: A year OVP kept itself busy despite lack of funds, brickbats from Malacañang
Robredo was joined here by her running-mate, vice-presidential candidate Senator Francis Pangilinan, and senatorial aspirants Chel Diokno, Sonny Matula, Alex Lacson and reelectionist Senator Richard Gordon.
Sueno for Leni
The event, dubbed “Hingyaw Para kay Leni,” was attended by former South Cotabato governor and Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno, a senior adviser of the Robredo People’s Council-Soccsksargen.
Before the people’s rally, she made a courtesy visit to the city hall here and met with Mayor Eliordo Ogena, Vice Mayor Peter Miguel, and several members of the city council.
Ogena did not endorse Robredo’s candidacy but a source close to the mayor said he is leaning towards supporting her.
Ogena is seeking reelection under the PDP-Laban (Cusi wing) while Miguel is running for representative of South Cotabato’s second district under the slate of reelectionist Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., the national president of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.
READ: Robredo’s Angat Buhay program has helped 155,000 families
Street to honor Jesse
In a brief program held at the city hall lobby, Robredo said the city is close to her heart and of her family.
“This is the only LGU (local government unit) in the country that named a street as tribute to my late husband,” she said.
In 2013, the city council passed Ordinance No. 12 naming a road near the city hall complex and traversing the city terminal as Sec. Jesse Robredo Avenue in honor of the late official’s contributions to the city.
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