Robredo pitches ‘solving power woes’ before 27,000 Zamboangueño crowd (Sabong News)

Presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday, March 17, promised Zamboangueños that she would personally address the power interruption problems in the region. “Ang akin pong pangako, ako mismo ang tututok para masolusyunan ito (My promise is I will personally focus to solve this),” she told a crowd of more than 27,000 kakampinks. “Titiyakin po natin nakahanay sa best practices ang proseso ng contracting, power sourcing, at planning, para may sapat na supply sa tamang halaga, at may ilaw sa bawat tahanan sa Zamboanga (Let us make sure that we comply to the best practices of the process of contracting, power sourcing, and planning, so there’s enough supply at the right price, and there’s light in every home in Zamboanga),” Robredo added. Zamboanga has regularly suffered from scheduled brownouts and power interruptions due to the lack of steady power supply. The Vice President, who campaigned in General Santos City, Cotabato City, Basilan, and Zamboanga this week, recognized that peace and order are also main concerns in the region. “Yung gobyernong isinusulong natin, ito ‘yung gobyernong laging may (The government that we are pushing for is a government that always has a) sense of urgency, dahil alam nating parating urgent ang inyong pangangailangan (because we know your needs are always urgent),” Robredo said. She assured Zamboangueños that security will be one of her priorities if she wins this May, referring to a whole-of-nation approach in combating terrorism, violent extremism, and insurgency. “Hindi lang po tutugisin ang (We will not only eliminate) lawless elements; tututukan natin ang kalusugan, edukasyon, kabuhayan, at katarungan (we will focus on health, education, livelihood, and justice),” she stressed. The aspiring president reiterated she will also push for the “full implementation” of the Mandanas ruling, which will allocate a bigger chunk of the national government’s tax collection to local government units (LGUs). “Para ang mga LGU, mas empowered at mas maliksi, dahil may regular at angkop na pondo para punan ang mga tungkulin nila sa inyo (So the LGU will be more empowered and energetic because it has a regular and proper funds to address their duties to you),” she said. Robredo made the same promise to supporters in General Santos City. The Supreme Court ruling was named after Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas, who challenged the national government’s position that LGUs were entitled to a smaller share of the tax collections. Aside from the transfer of basic services to the LGUs by 2024, the Mandanas ruling will also shift some P234.4 billion worth of programs and projects to local governments. The Vice President, the lone female presidential candidate among 10 contenders, is a firm believer in empowering local governments.