IRIGA CITY, Philippines—Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas will “drive” the Philippines to become a “First World” country if he would be chosen to succeed President Benigno Aquino III.
In past interviews, Roxas has been very vocal about driving as his way of relaxation. (“Driving relieves my stress. I feel relaxed when I drive, especially when it’s a long drive,” Roxas told the Inquirer once in an interview.)
READ: ‘Boy Pick-up’ loves driving for other VIPs
But he warned Nagueños here that if they vote for the wrong President, the corrupt leader, subtly referring to Vice President Jejomar Binay, the country will not “reach its destination.”
READ: Roxas: VP Binay an expert on graft, corruption
The administration candidate spoke before thousands of Naga City residents as the Liberal Party-led “Daang Matuwid” coalition held another proclamation rally in the home province of its vice presidential bet Leni Robredo.
In a speech, Roxas likened the governance with driving a car, hitting corrupt presidents as those preventing the country from moving toward development.
“Kung maalala po natin, bago mag-1986, bago mag-2010, kahit anong yapak natin sa silindador, hindi umaandar ang ating sasakyan. Karga tayo nang karga ng gasolina, punong-puno ang tangke ng gasolina, akala natin aandar na ang ating bansa. Yapak naman tayo sa silindador, walang nangyayari. Bakit? Ninanakaw ang pera natin, eh! ‘Yung gasolina na nilalagay natin sa tangke ay ninanakaw kaya pagyapak natin sa silindador o sa motorsiklo, pagbukas natin ng pagbukas natin ng throttle, ay hindi umaandar ang ating bansa,” he said.
Roxas said it was only in 2010, the car was able to accelerate up to the fourth gear—when the Filipinos elected President Aquino.
“Ano nangyari mula 2010? Nagsimula tayo sa primera. Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap. Aba, umaandar na tayo! Sabay pasok tayo sa segunda. Kayo ang boss. Tumototoo tayo na sa lahat ng desisyon, ang inyong pakinabang ang siyang mangingibabas na interes. E di nasa segunda na tayo; maganda ang takbo ng ating bansa. Tapos, ‘yung umiiral pa na values, na asal, ay ‘yung participatory, para sa pangkalahatan. Kaya dumating na tayo sa tercera. Mabilis na ang takbo ng estado. Malayo na ang narating natin,” he said.
READ: Roxas: Even blind, deaf could tell ‘Daang Matuwid’ delivered
According to Roxas, the country has gone far since the previous administration because of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), PhilHealth coverage for more than 90 million Filipinos, and the Bottom-up Budgeting or the participatory budgeting process in the grassroots.
“Kaya nandito na tayo, kaya mabilis na ang takbo ng ating estado. Nakaprimera, nakasegunda, nakatercera, at kung magpatuloy tayo, dadating tayo sa cuarta hanggang sa quinta. Super bilis na magiging ang tawag nila “First World” na tayo. Kabahagi tayo ng mga modernong bansa sa buong daigdig kung magpatuloy tayo sa Daang Matuwid.”
Roxas and Robredo continued their campaign kickoff in the home province of the latter in Camarines Sur on Friday with President Aquino as their guest.
READ: Leni Robredo as VP to help continue ‘daang matuwid’—Roxas
Before Iriga City, the administration candidates visited the hometown of Roxas in Capiz province for the presidential candidate’s sendoff. TVJ