Mayor Isko Moreno assures farmers won’t be victims of false promises

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija — Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer Isko Moreno Domagoso on Friday assured farmers that they will not be once again victims of empty political promises once he gets elected, as he bared several concrete plans to help uplift their lives and that of their families.

Moreno made the assurance during a press conference at the Harvest Hotel in this city after Ka Joey, a calamansi farmer and farmer leader, narrated his bitter experiences during every presidential election cycle.

Aksyon Demokratiko candidates led by its standard bearer Francisco “Isko Moren”o Domagoso face supporters at Freedom Park in Cabanatuan City. FILE PHOTO

“Matagal na po akong bumoboto. Lahat po ng presidentiable na naiboto ko, puro magsasaka po ang pinaka-priority nila sa kanilang mga plataporma de gobyerno. Nakita ko po sa matagal na ako’y bumoboto sa mga presidentiable ng nakaraan, parang ginagawa lang pong tadtaran yung mga magsasaka,” Ka Joey said.

“Kaya naman po ako naparito ngayon, sapagkat meron pong presidentiable na nagpunta dito sa Cabanatuan, hinawakan po yung bunga ng kalamansi at wala pong sinabing programa na maitutulong niya sa magsasaka at sa mga calamansi grower dito sa Cabanatuan at sa buong bansa. Ano po ba yung kasiguruhan na yon pong magsasaka ay makasisiguro na kung kayo po ay mananalong pangulo ng ating bansa, ay maibibigay po niyo ang full support para makaahon sa mga gastos at makabayad po sa kanilang pagkakautang,” Ka Joey said.

Moreno said he cannot blame the farmer for having such misgivings since politicians tend to promise everything just to get the votes of the masses only to renege on their campaign promises once elected.

“Yung punto mo kanina na mukhang marami ka ng naibotong presidente, at naging tadtaran lang ang likod niyong mga magsasaka ng mga salita ng mga pulitiko. So, ang ibig sabihin, nabobola lagi. Kung tawag niyo ay naging tadtaran, ang tawag sa amin ay nadala sa basketball, na-dribble,” Moreno said.

“Hindi kita masisisi at iba pa nating magsasaka na kapag halalan, ang bida mahirap. Pero pag lingkuran na, o kaya ay time to prove and time to deliver services, ang mga mahihirap nasa dulo ng walang hanggan,” said Moreno.

After a brief pause, the 47-year-old presidential candidate said that he already had an idea about the identity of the presidentiable who held a calamansi.

“Aah, lam ko na kung sino yung humawak ng kalamansi. Masarap yon sa  lugaw kapag may kalamansi,” Moreno said in jest.

Turning serious, the Aksyon Demokratiko presidential bet pointed out that the 50 percent cut in the excise taxes on oil products and electricity that he vowed last October was made before farmers and fisherfolks in the province of Tarlac.

“My point is, kaya ako umiikot hindi para pulaan yung sitwasyon niyo, kundi para malaman yung sitwasyon niyo, tapos yung policy making, yung programa, plano, binabagay mo sa needs of the time kaya ko nasabi yon,” he said.

The Manila city mayor said the tax cuts would bring down the cost of agriculture production, especially during this time, since agriculture is one of the major users of petroleum products. Farmers are heavily dependent on oil products for fuel, fertilizers and pesticides to achieve high crop yields.

Likewise, Mayor Isko said a Moreno administration will invest on the establishment of cold storage facilities, grain storage facilities and drying facilities for farmers.

“We guarantee you that we will build more storage and drying facilities for palay. Para pagka baha ang bigas, huwag mapuwersa ang magsasaka na ibenta ang palay niya sa talong halaga,” he said.

Furthermore, Moreno said palay farmers who stocked their produce in government storage facilities will be assisted by government financial institutions in terms of interest free loans while waiting for the price of palay to go up.

“Papahiramin ko muna siya ng 20-50 percent nung value nung palay niya. Yung nahiram niya sa gobyerno magbabalik na siya ulit by the time tumaas yung presyo. Kung magkano ang nahiram niya sa gobyerno yon lang ang isosoli niya. Umikot ng umikot yung pera niya tapos para pa siyang nagdedeposito ng palay sa bangko. Then we achieve food sufficiency,” explained Moreno.

“Kung tangan-tangan natin kasi gumawa tayo ng pasilidad, gumaan ang buhay ng magsasaka, meron na silang storage at dryer, tapos may makukuha pa silang pera na hndi galing sa patubuan, hind galing sa pahigpitan. With this ecosystem, tingin ko panatag ang pamumuhay ng magsasaka,” said Moreno.

He also vowed full development in the Department of Agriculture with regards to food security programs, adapting to technology, science, skills, in order to maximize productivity in limited planting areas. He also vowed to clamp down on the smuggling of agricultural products and limit importation.

“As we progress, unti-unti nating naiintindihan at nasu-sulusyonan yung lahat ng problema ng magsasaka. Pero umasa kayo na lahat ng ito ay mangyayari,” Moreno vowed.

Mayor Isko said one of his major assets is that ever since he entered public service at a young age of 23, he always keeps his promises to the people.

“Pinakamabisa siguro magtanong kayo sa Maynila. Hindi nakukuha ng electric fan ang problema ng bayan. Hindi makukuha ng kalamansi, tapos idi-display, ang problema ng bayan. Masusulosyunan mo ba ang hirap ng tao kapag tinawag mo siyang laylayan ng lipunan?” he said.

Moreno said it is for this reason why he and his running mate, Dr. Willie Ong, decided to run in the elections – to offer real solutions to the problems of the people and quickly act on it.

“Nagdesisyon kami ni Doc Willie kasi gusto naming ialay yung serbisyo namin, gusto naming ialay yung experience namin, gusto naming ialay yung mga pangarap namin sa tao. Fortunately, Doc Willie said yes. Sabi ko ikaw Doc sa life, ako sa livelihood. Kasi ang focus namin is life and livelihood in the first two years,” he said.

“Kaya naisip ni Doc magtayo ng Cancer Center, Infectious Disease Hospital, tapos yung 17 na katulad ng Bagong Ospital ng Maynila sa 17 rehiyon then sa provinces. So, yun ang naging basis ng desisyon namin, na paano makapag-offer ng serbisyo sa taong bayan. That happened kasi yon yung pina-plano namin not because of a Marvel movie,” said Moreno.

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