Marcos vows to repay people’s support with sufficient gov’t aid

‘KADIWA NG PANGULO’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. talks to a vendor during a visit to the Kadiwa caravan set up at the Cebu provincial capitol grounds on Monday. INQUIRER photo / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vowed to repay the people’s full and unwavering support to his administration with sufficient government aid to improve their lives.

“Kaya po hindi po namin ititigil, hindi ko po makalimutan ang init ng inyong pagsuporta, hindi ko po makakalimutan. Kaya’t lagi kong iniisip the support and the affection that I receive from you I have to pay back. And if it takes the rest of my life, I will happily spend the rest of my life paying it back to you,” the President said in his speech during the distribution of government assistance at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex in Cebu.

(That is why we will not stop, we will not forget the warmth of your support, and I will never forget this.)

Marcos and other national and local government officials graced and led the launching of several projects of his administration around the different cities in Cebu province.

Some of the projects were the Cebu City Bus Rapid Transit System and the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipno program (4PH), one of the Marcos administration’s flagship projects.

“Sinamahan po kami sa aming pag-iikot galing po kami sa Cebu City at ininspeksyon lang namin ‘yung bagong Kadiwa na dinala na namin sa Cebu City [We were accompanied in our rounds in Cebu City to inspect the new Kadiwa that we brought to Cebu City],” the President said.

“Dahil alam naman natin ngayon kahit na nabawasan na ang pandemya, mayroon pa ring tayong mga problema. Kaya’t patuloy pa rin at sinimulan namin ‘yung Kadiwa noong Pasko. Ang tawag namin ‘Kadiwa ng Pasko,’” the chief executive pointed out.

(Because we know that even though the pandemic declined, we still have problems. That is why we will continue like when we started the Kadiwa last Christmas, which we called Kadiwa ng Pasko.)

The President said Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia had reminded him that it was the first time he had been in the province since the 2022 presidential campaign.

“Nagulat din ako kasi parang kailan lang ay nandito tayo at nagkakampanya at… Kaya naman ito na ‘yung aking unang pagkakataon na maibigay sa inyo ang aking pasasalamat sa inyong tulong, sa inyong suporta, sa inyong pag-alala hindi lamang noong nakaraang kampanya, hindi lamang noong halalan ngunit tuloy-tuloy hanggang ako’y nakaupo na kayo’y nandiyan pa rin at nararamdaman ko pa rin ang inyong pagmamahal, ang inyong suporta,” President Marcos recalled.

(I was surprised to know that it was that long. I remember I was here campaigning and it felt like it was just recently. That is why this is my opportunity to give you all my gratitude for the support, not only during the elections but you continued until I was proclaimed.)

“Kaya’t nandito tayo ngayon ulit nagpapasalamat ako sa inyo at sinisimulan na natin ang ating pinag-usapan, ang ating mga nabanggit na problema na hinaharap ng ating lipunan. Kaya naman tayo ngayon ay nandito para makapagbigay ng kahit kaunting tulong sa ating mga kababayan,” the President added.

(We are here today to thank you and start what we have talked about, the problems our nation faces. So we are here to provide even a little help to our people.)

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