Gov. Albert Garcia welcomes presidential aspirant Manila Mayor Isko Moreno to Bataan. Photo by Ernie Esconde
BALANGA CITY — Presidential aspirant and Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno during his visit in Bataan Wednesday insisted that it was no longer necessary to use face shields.
He emphasized to the big crowd at The Bunker, seat of the provincial government in Balanga City, that the use of face shields is not backed by scientific study.
“Kaya pumunta kayo sa Maynila at hindi na kayo gagastos sa face shield dahil hindi na kailangan magsuot nito. Eh, tosgas lang yan,” Moreno said.
He computed that at P300 a month as expenses for face shields, the amount can already be used in buying five kilos of rice.
“Ang halagang ito ang ninanakaw at nawawala dahil sa face shield na wala namang bisa. Mahirap huminga, malabo na mata mo ay lalo pang lumalabo at madalas madapa ang mga lolo at lola natin at nahihirapan mga driver,” Moreno said.
“If science will agree with it then I will agree with its use. In the absence of study, no way, tama na, sobra na, tigilan na. Tigilan na natin yan and let us focus on something else, something that is important,” he stressed.
He also spelled out some programs that he would undertake with his vice presidential bet Dr. Willie Ong.
Moreno said they will focus on “buhay at kabuhayan” (life and livelihood) in the first two years. “Itatawid muna ang tao, maibsan muna ang hirap ng kinalalagyan ng tao ngayon at gumaan man lang ang pamumuhay nila.”
What he is doing in Manila and the projects of President Duterte in the country will be continued. What has been started has to be finished, he said.
“Gusto kong tigilan ang ugali ng mga pulitiko na kapag natatapos ang isang administrasyon ay ginigiba at hindi itinutuloy ng sumunod na administrasyon, Ako hindi, dahil pinapahalagahan ko ang buwis ng mga tao,” Moreno said.
“Yan ay binabayaran ng buwis ng tao kaya dapat matuloy. We will continue to build, build, build but in our case after natin ituloy ang mga nasimulan na, tayo naman ay magbibuild, build, build. Build more schools, hospitals, industry, jobs and build the bridge from Bataan to Corregidor to Batangas to Cavite.” he continued.
The Manila mayor has big plans to lessen the cost of petroleum products and electric power: “If given the chance, I will cut by 50 percent ng tax ng petrolyo and 50 percent tax ng kuryente.”
He said he cannot dictate on the prices from the oil-producing countries but he can control the taxes: “It is said that the country will be losing P130 billion with the cut in taxes but the more it strengthened my resolve.”
“Kung malulugi pansamantala ang pamahalaan na siya namang kapakinabangan ng tao, then so be it because if that is P130-B loss for the government that is P130-B gain of the people,” Moreno said.
“Umatras ang gobyerno pero umabante naman ang tao. Tao muna dahil hindi naman ito panghabang-buhay. Pansamantala lang at ito ang pansamantala na kung saan mararamdaman kaagad ng tao, ng mahirap, middle class, upper middle class, mayaman ang benepisyo kasi for the first time nagparaya ang gobyerno at inuna ang tao,” he said.
Moreno said this is what they are doing in Manila: “Hindi yumaman ang Maynila pero tumatag ang pamumuhay ng tao sa loob ng pandemya sa loob ng dalawang taon. Kung nagawa sa Maynila ay kayang gawin sa buong bansa.”
Gov. Albert Garcia led municipal and provincial officials in welcoming Moreno and his group. After The Bunker, they went to Barangay Puerto Rivas in Balanga City and Barangay Landing in Pilar. In the afternoon, they proceeded to Mariveles.
Moreno recalled of his boyhood in Pilar where he said he gathered palay and gravel for their livelihood.
