My Top 3 Navotas issues: Joblessness, slums, drugs

Erros Josephus M. Gutierrez, Magna Cum Laude, Bachelor of Secondary Education, Major in Mathematics—Class of 2015, Navotas Polytechnic College

THE METRO MILLENNIAL VOTE

INQUIRER Metro asked young “millennial” voters from the 16 cities and one municipality making up Metro Manila about their thoughts on the 2016 elections. Let’s hear it from a generation whose raw but telling views can be both a reminder of failed promises and a renewer of hope.

(Fourth of a series)

EVERY city is confronted with issues or problems that are sometimes hard to eradicate. As I try to examine the situation in our city, I have come up with the Top 3 issues that I believe candidates in the 2016 local elections should address.

These are unemployment, informal settlers and drug-related crimes.

There are just so many people who don’t have a job these days and even if they want to look for one, there is limited opportunity for them to be trained.

As a consequence, their poverty paves the way for the second issue which is the rising number of informal settlers. There are places in the city where I’m really afraid to go because I think they are not safe. There are times when I feel sorry for the residents because I don’t have the power to somehow alleviate their situation.

If only I could be heard and be able to bring them out of their agony. I also come from a poor family so I know how hard it is.

With the rise of drug-related crimes, people are deprived of their right to live without fear. Who wouldn’t want to live in a safe, drug-free environment?

Since, these situations hinder the city’s progress, each candidate must prioritize addressing these issues.