Isko Moreno vows to invest on STEM, Agriculture courses to make Filipino students competitive

By: Dennis Gutierrez - 3 years ago

FILE PHOTO: Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso tours parts of the Bicol Region. Photo from Isko Moreno’s Office

MANILA, Philippines — Aksyon Demokratiko presidential candidate Isko Moreno Domagoso has vowed to invest on STEM courses – Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics – but will add Agriculture to enable Filipino students to become competitive with other countries and to also ensure food security.

“Kung kailangan mag-catch up dun sa mga lost opportunities, sa mga nag-aral, graduates natin ngayon, then so be it, we’ll invest on it. But let’s move on towards sa goal natin para sa ating mga kababayan para sila maging competitive sa mundo. Ang akin pong direksyon ay una, nasabi ko na, I’ll invest on STEM. Irere-direct ko going to STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. But, going around the country, nakita ko po yung buhay ng magsasaka na nagbibigay sa akin ng pagkain. Kaya ang gagawin ko, STEAM… S-T-E-A-M. A for Agriculture,” Moreno said during the Commission on Elections-sponsored presidential debates on Saturday.

Moreno maintained that reinforcing agriculture courses will ensure that college students taking the course will be better equipped with the technical know-how so they can compete with their foreign counterparts.

“We will invest such money, mamumuhunan tayo. Bigyan natin yung mga state universities katulad ng sa Tarlac, katulad sa sa UP Los Banos. Ang daming state universities sa Mindanao na maaaring magturo muli ng agrikultura para magkaroon tayo ng food security dahil itong pandemyang ito tinuruan na tayo na maging maingat at mag-produce ng sarili nating pagkain at huwag tayong umasa sa mga imported food products. We have to be food sufficient. We ready our students in the future in terms of science and technology and agriculture. Yan po ang aking plano, mga kababayan,” Moreno pointed out.

On the question on whether he favors a four-day work week amid the unabated increases in prices of diesel and gasoline, Moreno said that will depend on the industry that will be affected.

“Pero kung BPO (Business Process Outsourcing), for example, it can have 1-day work from home. Pero may industriya tayo na kailangan ng physical presence to create more productivity, efficiency in production. For example, mga planta na kailangan talaga ng human resources and presence of human resources. In other sectors like BPO, yes, I agree (to a 4-day work week),” Moreno explained.

With Metro Manila being the center of everything including the economy, Moreno assured that once he becomes president, more funds will be allocated to far-flung areas around the country so that people’s lives there will be improve as compared to giving more funds in highly-urbanized cities and regions like Metro Manila. This is based on the Law of Diminishing Returns.

“Una, sa pag ikot-ikot ko po sa iba’t-ibang dako ng ating bansa, isla, barangay, munisipalidad, na masyado pong na-spoiled ang Metro Manila. Parang ang focus of development nandidito sa Metro Manila. So, that’s why, mga kababayan, eto po ang gagawin ko. Sa bawat piso na ibibigay na development sa Metro Manila ay ilalaan ko papunta sa far-flung areas because pag dito yan ginawa sa Metro Manila, wala na yang masyadong ibibigay na maganda sa ekonomiya. But, kung yung same piso ilalagay ko sa mga probinsya, mga dirt road na kung saan dapat kalsada, farm-to-market road, mga pasilidad patubig,” Moreno explained.

Moreno added: “Mga kababayan, nakakalugmok isipin yung nakita ko sa probinsya. So, kaya po umasa kayo, lahat na mga bagay na imprastraktura na ginagamit sa Metro Manila, will be diverted to far-flung areas to create more economic development and movement in the areas. And may awa ang Diyos, mga kababayan, pagtutuunan ko ng pansin, and napapanahon na sa estado na pagtuunan at puhunanan ng pansin ang agrikultura.”

In closing, Moreno said that if elected president, his administration will pursue a “Life and Livelihood” economic policy that aims to address poverty, hunger, unemployment, inequality, and social injustice through an inclusive and equitable infrastructure development program as spelled out under his 10-point Bilis Kilos Economic Agenda.

“Mga kababayan, ang pinaka-importanteng ekonomiya ay ang “ekonomiya ng sikmura.” Pagkain sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino dahil itong pandemyang ito ay nag bukas sa ating kaisipan na hindi tayo pwedeng umasa nang umasa na lamang sa mga imported na kaya namang i-produce ng ating mangingisda, maghahayop at nagtatanim nating mga kababayan sa sektor ng agrikultura. Food security is the thrust. Yun ang pupuntahan ko na direksyon pag ako po ay binigyan nyo ng pagkakataon,” he said.

During the debate, the moderator also asked candidates if the “Build, Build, Build” program of the current administration is a success, to which Mayor Isko replied: “Yes, matagumpay ang ‘Build, Build, Build’.”

The Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer also vowed to continue with “Build, Build, Build” but with a new focus – addressing the minimum basic needs of the people.

“Opo, mga kababayan, itutuloy ko po ang “Build, Build, Build.” But we will build more housing, better schools, more hospitals, more post-harvest facility para sa ating fisherfolks, farmers at maghahayop and more sources of energy for stability of energy sa buong Pilipinas. Sapagkat sa pag-ikot-ikot ko po, nakita ko po yung mga kababayan natin, madalas maghingalo pati ang kuryente nila. Naghihingalo na ang buhay, naghihingalo pa ang kuryente, naghihingalo pa ang internet. These are the things that we’re going to focus on “Build, Build, Build.” Tao muna,” Moreno said.

On the question of whether the country is ready for a new surge in Covid-19 cases, Moreno said if that happens, there is still the P100 billion left on the Bayanihan 1 and 2 passed which he will use for the procurement of new equipment, building of Covid-19 field hospitals and purchase of anti-viral drugs Baricitinib, Molnupiravir, Tocilizumab, Bexavid, and Remdesivir, which the City of Manila did.

“Ibig pong sabihin, we can learn to live with Covid-19 and go back to work safely. Yun po ang magiging direksyon namin kaya po mga kababayan ang pinili kong (vice president) ay doktor. Katulad na rin ng tanong ng moderator, meron pa rin tayong pandemyang kakaharapin. Kaya minabuti ko, life and livelihood. Yan po ang direksyon na ating pupuntahan. Proteksyunan, iwasang may mamatay sa impeksyon ng Covid by giving them equal opportunity and access to better healthcare system,” Moreno said.