Presidential bets see widespread poverty while touring PH

MANILA, Philippines — Widespread poverty was the top realization that struck most of the presidential candidates as they toured the Philippines for their campaign.

Nine candidates shared their thoughts on the matter on Saturday during the “PiliPinas Debates 2022,” which was organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Only former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. skipped the event.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said he realized that Metro Manila had been “spoiled” too much, as projects had not been brought to the countryside, especially the far-flung areas.

“It’s like the focus of development is here in Metro Manila,” Moreno said, speaking partly in Filipino and English.

“So that’s why, my countrymen,  this is what I will do: Every peso that will be given to a development in Metro Manila, I will set aside for far-flung areas because, if we do it here in Metro Manila, it will no longer do any good for the economy,” he said.

He would rather see funds go to the construction of farm-to-market roads and irrigation facilities, among others.

The Commission on Elections placed 10 podiums for its “PiliPinas Debates” scheduled on Saturday, March 19, 2022, at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City, even if only nine presidential candidates signified their participation in the event. (JOHN ERIC MENDOZA / INQUIRER.net)

Labor leader Leody de Guzman said the poverty he saw in various parts of the country only solidified his belief that the government must change and that laws must be altered so that they would serve not only the interests of the rich.

“Going around and consulting various sectors, I clearly realized how bad our citizens were suffering in poverty. Many had no jobs. And those who had jobs were contractual… Our farmers are crying over the rice tariffication law because of the drop in the price of their play,” De Guzman said.

“Our women are in the same situation. The young people are not even sure if they could finish high school,” he added.

Vice President Leni Robredo, who had been visiting remote communities even before becoming a government official, said her touring the country had given her a huge source of information as to what policies she might adopt as president.

“Ever since I was an NGO worker and I was a lawyer for the marginalized sector up to the time I was already in Congress until I became VP, there has really been no substitute for staying long in these communities. And when I say staying in these communities, I mean not during campaigns,” Robredo said.

“That where you hear about, where you feel the poverty that our countrymen are going through. And that’s what shapes the policies and projects that we do,” she added.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson noted that he and his running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, were able to help other people by informing them of their eligibility for certain government services.

“There was so much we have learned and also so many that we have helped on the spot. Instead of staging rallies, Senate President Sotto and I chose to conduct multisectoral dialogues,” Lacson said.

“And we were able to educate then, especially tricycle drivers, farmers, fisherfolk,  about what they did not know — that they were entitled to the fuel subsidy of the DOTr [Department of Transportation] through LTFRB [Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board],” he added.

Poverty in the Philippines has long been a problem, and the COVID-19 pandemic only made it worse by paralyzing the economy for a while in 2020.

According to the national government last December 2021, the poverty rate rose to 23.7 percent for the first half of the same year, due to rising prices of goods.

In the same month, the Social Weather Stations released a survey showing that 45 percent of Filipino families had rated themselves poor.

A little over 30 days into the campaign, candidates have already visited a lot of areas in the country, with almost all of them moving across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao on several occasions.

Robredo was recently in Mindanao to visit its Central and Islamic areas. Lacson went to Northern Luzon;while Moreno was in Cavite last Friday.

All of the candidates in the Comelec-hosted debate are looking to overtake the supposed frontrunner, former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

According to Pulse Asia, Marcos managed to grab 60 percent of the respondents’ votes if elections had been held from Feb. 18 to 23.

Robredo follows Marcos but at a far 15 percent. Next is Moreno with 10 percent, followed by Sen. Manny Pacquiao with 8 percent; and Lacson with 2 percent.

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