Isko Moreno woos voters in Samar

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno in Samar

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso stumped for votes in his late mother’s hometown on Samar Island in his first campaign trip outside Luzon on Monday and Tuesday, promising to bring in infrastructure projects to a place he said had long been “left behind.”

The Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer vowed to divert funding into poorer islands like Samar, which is divided into the provinces of Samar, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar, instead of pouring more money into Metro Manila and other highly urbanized cities.

Speaking to reporters in Lavezares town, about 20 minutes from Allen, the hometown of his late mother Rosario, Domagoso said on Tuesday he planned to pursue the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program in Northern Samar and its adjacent provinces to uplift the lives of its residents.

The presidential candidate arrived in Samar on Monday.

He was accompanied by his running mate, Dr. Willie Ong, and senatorial bets Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc and Jopet Sison.

While he grew up in the slums of Tondo in Manila, Domagoso played up his Waray roots in his dialogues with townsfolk, noting that it had been a long time since a Samar native won a national office.

The late Jose Avelino, who hailed from Calbayog City, served as Senate President from 1946 to 1949.

—DJ YAP

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