Aquino, Roxas court barangay officials

Liberal party presidential and vice presidential candidate Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo with president Benigno Aquino III during the kick-off proclamation rally held at the Capiz Gymnasium, Roxas City.
INQUIRER PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA

After promoting his candidates to allies and mayors the day before, President Benigno Aquino III reprised his role on Thursday morning during the national assembly of village (barangay) officials.

Aquino showcased the gains of his administration and told village officials that they should vote for the tandem that will truly continue his “Daang Matuwid (Straight Path)” agenda.

“At para sa akin po, walang iba po iyan kundi si Mar Roxas at si Leni Robredo (For me, it’s none other than Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo,” he said.

READ: Aquino turns the spotlight on Roxas, Robredo in Iloilo

Highlighted during the event was the administration’s bottom-up budgeting (BuB) program for villages, which gives them additional funds for grassroots projects.

Despite resigning from office to run as president in the May elections, former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas was invited to the national assembly of Liga ng mga Barangas sa Pilipinas to talk about the government’s BuB program.

In his presentation, Roxas said it is an important component to fight poverty. He emphasized that all LGUs, regardless of political affiliation of officials, will receive funds through the BuB.

“Walang iniwan, walang pinili, hindi tinanong kung sinong nanalo. Hindi tinanong kung ano ang chaleko. Hindi tinanong kung anong kulay ang winawagayway sa mga bayan na iyon,” he said.

(No one will be left behind, it won’t be asked who won. It won’t be asked whose vest one is wearing [in reference to one’s political affiliation]. It won’t be asked which colors are being brandished by that town.)

Roxas, who joked with the audience throughout his speech, said he wasn’t campaigning. But he said P1 billion in funds for capital outlay have been allocated for the BuB (P1,000 for each resident).

Aquino, on the other hand, recalled his past experience as Tarlac congressman. He said he can relate to village officials who are on-call “24/7, 365.25 days a year.”

“Pag hindi niyo napagbigyan yung kalahati doon sa sampung hiningi, nine and a half naibigay niyo, yung one half hindi niyo naibigay, yun lang ang maaalala,” he said.

(If you are unable to give just half of ten things being asked of you, if you were only able to deliver nine-and-a-half, that one-half that you left behind would be recalled most.)

On Wednesday, Aquino attended the League of Municipalities of the Philippines general assembly with Roxas and Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo. CDG

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