'GOBYERNONG MAY PUSO' WILL DELIVER

BAGUIO CITY—Visiting familiar territories in the north, presidential race frontrunner Sen. Grace Poe faced her critics head-on, saying she was not only qualified to be president but she would do things more efficiently than self-proclaimed experienced politicians.

Speaking to thousands of supporters at the Melvin Jones Grandstand in Baguio’s famous Burnham Park, Poe said her “Gobyernong may Puso” would deliver on its promises to help the most neglected sectors, including farmers and poor students.  

“Mga kababayan, kung hindi nila binubulsa ang pera, kung tama ang pamamalakad nila, kung sila ay may tunay na malasakit, dapat nagawa na nila ang mga ito noon pa,” Poe said before a cheering crowd. “Kaya po natin ‘yan.”

The senator, the first foundling to run for president, said she would never steal from her countrymen.

“Sabi nila, wala kang karanasan. Ang sagot ko: wala akong karanasan sa pagnanakaw at pananakot,” she said.

“Sabi nila OJT daw ako. Sabi nila papayagan mo ba na ang magmamaneho ng kotse mo, baguhan lamang?... Sagot ko pa sa kanila: mas pipiliin ko na ang bagong nagmamaneho kaysa sa matagal na ngang nagmamaneho pero matagal nang naka-park lang ang sasakyan,” Poe said.

The leading presidential aspirant assured voters that if elected, she would continue the Conditional Cash Transfer program that has helped millions of poor families, and even strengthen it to provide livelihood opportunities.

“Ang ating laban ay para magkaron tayo ng maayos na buhay sa ating bansa. Ang nais isulong ng ‘Gobyernong may Puso’ ay programang tunay na nakakatulong sa inyo. Ito ay gobyernong nakakaramdam ng inyong problema,” she said.

Poe reiterated her earlier pledge to the people of Mountain Province, which she visited early Tuesday with her running mate, Sen. Francis Escudero, who is also leading all pre-election surveys.

During a multisectoral consultation at the Mt. Province General Comprehensive High School in Bontoc, the tandem vowed to build dynamic food terminals, provide more post-harvest facilities, scrap irrigation fees, and ensure that education is free for the poor from pre-school to college.

The Cordillera Administrative Region whose local economy is dependent on farming has a high poverty incidence. Sixty percent of poor Filipinos are in the agricultural sector.

“Itong mga problema ay paulit-ulit lamang. Marami, sabi nila ang tagal na nila sa pwesto, di tulad ko na bago lang. Kung ganu’n sila kagaling, bakit pareho pa rin ang problema na di nila nasosolusyunan?” Poe asked.

“Kung ang isang pangulo ay magtatalaga ng matitinong tao sa gobyerno, hindi tayo aabot sa puntong ito.  Kailangan lang ay mabilis kumilos, tapat at may malasakit, at tayo ay aangat. Maniwala kayo sa amin,” she said.

Poe and Escudero were joined in Baguio by Partido Galing at Puso senatorial bets Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian, Bayan Rep. Neri Colmenares, Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo, ACT-CIZ Rep. Samuel Pagdilao, Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, reelectionist Sen. Tito Sotto, former senators Miguel Zubiri and Richard Gordon, lawyer Lorna Kapunan, migrants rights advocate Susan Ople.

“Ang aming programa simple lang: sapat na trabaho para sa ating mga kababayan, edukasyon para sa ating mga anak, at proteksyon at kalusugan para sa ating lahat,” Poe said. #