Asked to comment on the reported appeal of President Aquino while in Chicago, USA to support his bet, Roxas just laughed and said “Wala ako sa Chicago, nandito ako sa Dinalupihan.”
Pressed further on what he thought would be a good President, the secretary said that the people should know better.
“Siguro naman mas gusto ng mga tao ang magpapatuloy ng matuwid, maayos, hayag na pamamahala. Malayo na ang nararating ng administrasyong ito. Wala sa tarpaulin, wala sa talumpati kundi nakikita tulad sa gripo na may tubig,” he said.
Roxas was in Payangan to inspect the water system of this upland village that was funded under the Bottom Up Budgeting (BUB) of the Department of interior and Local Government.
“Ngayon on equal footing na ang mga Aeta sa mga lowlanders dahil meron na rin silang malinis na tubig,” he said. Joel Abraham, Aeta tribal chieftain, said they used to fetch water from below the mountain.
“Maraming salamat po Secretary Roxas sa inyong tulong hindi lamang sa mga katutubo kundi sa lahat ng mamamayan ng Payangan, “the representative of the indigenous tribe to the Dinalupihan municipal council said.
Roxas also distributed checks for funding of water systems, flood control programs and relocation centers worth from P1 million to P3.7 million for the municipalities of Dinalupihan, Abucay, Samal, Bagac and Pilar.
Mayors Ana Santiago of Abucay, Gila Garcia of Dinalupihan, Gene dela Fuente and Ramil del Rosario of Bagac and Vice Mayor Marino Cagimbal of Pilar received the checks.
He also announced that all municipalities and cities in the country will have a brand new patrol vehicle each that can be used in police and emergency matters, Gov. Albert Garcia thanked Roxas for helping the province. “Napakasipag ni Secretary Roxas at nasa puso niya ang Bataan kaya maraming salamat.”
