Leni Robredo vows to fix Zamboanga City’s electricity woes

Despite sudden downpour, thousands still showed their support for presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo and her entire slate at the Layag Leni-Kiko people’s rally at the Cesar C. Climaco Freedom Park in Zamboanga City on Thursday night, March 17, 2022 (VP Leni Media Bureau)

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — Presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday promised to find solutions to Zamboanga City’s electricity problems.

“Alam ko rin na isa sa mga hamon na kinakaharap ninyo ay ‘yung madalas na power interruptions. Ang akin pong pangako, ako mismo ang tututok para masolusyunan ito,” Robredo told Zamboangueños during the grand rally organized for her and her slate at the Climaco Freedom Park. Local leaders said the event was attended by around 27,000 people.

(I know too that one of the biggest challenges you are facing is the frequent power interruption. My promise is that if I get elected president, I myself would focus on this issue so that it would be solved.)

“Titiyakin po natin nakahanay sa best practices ang proseso ng contracting, power sourcing, at planning, para may sapat na supply sa tamang halaga, at may ilaw sa bawat tahanan sa Zamboanga,” she added.

(We will make sure that we employ best practices in the process of contracting, power sourcing, and planning so there would be adequate supply at the right price, and every home in Zamboanga will have electricity.)

READ: Pink’ crowd defy rain for Robredo grand rally in Zamboanga City

This kind of governance, Robredo said, could be expected in her administration if she becomes the country’s next president.

“Posible ito sa gobyernong isinusulong natin: Walang palakasan, walang maliit o malaking lungsod, walang malapit o malayo sa Maynila. Lahat mahalaga,” she said.

(This is possible with the kind of government we are pushing for: no political patronage, no small or big city, no near or far from Manila. Everyone is valuable.)

“Excited na po akong makatrabaho kayo dahil ngayon pa lang dito po sa ating People’s Campaign, kitang-kita ko na ang uri ng Pilipinong kasama ko dito sa Zamboanga. Handang magbayanihan; nag-aambagan ng lakas para sa ikaaangat ng lahat. Nagkakaisa– hindi ng politiko sa politiko para sa pansariling interes kundi ng Pilipino sa Pilipino para sa kinabukasan ng lahat,” she added.

(I am already excited to work with you because now with our People’s Campaign, I can already see what kind of Filipino I would be working with in Zamboanga. They are prepared to help each other, sharing strengths for the good of all. United – not by politics for politicians to advance vested interests but by Filipinos for Filipinos to ensure a better future for all.)

The Vice President likewise acknowledged Zamboanga’s peace and order situation, particularly, terrorism, violent extremism, and insurgency.

“Dito po sa Zamboanga, alam kong pangunahing concern ang peace and order. Matindi pong trauma ang dinaanan ninyo noong Zamboanga siege,” she said.

(Here in Zamboanga, I know that the primary concern is peace and order. You went through so much trauma after the Zamboanga siege.)

“Whole-of-nation approach tayo sa terorismo, violent extremism, at insurgency. Hindi lang po tutugisin ang lawless elements; tututukan natin ang kalusugan, edukasyon, kabuhayan, at katarungan,” she added.

(We’ll have a whole-of-nation approach against terrorism, violent extremism, and insurgency. Lawless elements will not merely be hunted; we will focus n health, education, livelihood, and justice.)

During the 2016 vice-presidential run, Robredo won in Zamboanga by more than 158,000 votes against Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Robredo and Marcos Jr. were again up against each other in the 2022 presidential race.

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