MANILA, Philippines – Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III yesterday said he is making house building for the poor through Gawad Kalinga (GK) part of his platform of governance.
Aquino and running mate Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas II yesterday attended the 60th birthday celebration of GK founder Tony Meloto in Barangay Bagong Silang in Caloocan City to show support for his advocacy.
GK Bagong Silang, built in 1999, is the first-ever housing project built for the poor in Caloocan.
Before the GK village was built, Bagong Silang was reputed to be a breeding ground of criminals and a dump of assassination victims.
Today, it is a peaceful community of responsible and hardworking people with simple but beautiful homes.
Aquino said he is amazed by the transformation of Bagong Silang and promised to build similar communities in slum areas all over the country.
“Because of your hard work, cooperation, willingness to change your community and yourselves and allowing GK to help you, you were able to transform this place. GK Bagong Silang is now a picture of a successful Philippines,” Aquino told the residents of the village.
“This is what I want to replicate all over the country, not just build homes but to change and correct what is wrong in our country,” he added.
Aquino promised that once he is elected, he will provide for the needs of the poor by following Meloto’s example.
“My hats off to Mr. Meloto, the Couples for Christ (CFC), and Gawad Kalinga for transforming the poor and slum communities. They walked the talk and did not merely give empty promises,” he said.
For his birthday wish, Meloto said the next president should make community development a priority in governance.
“One of my birthday wishes is for a new president who will make this holistic, community-based development platform as the priority of the new administration,” he said.
New campaign strategy
Aquino said he would no longer prioritize attending presidential forums or debates if the issues are not focused on the country’s problems and the ills of the Arroyo administration that need to be addressed.
He said he would still attend some of them and accommodate interviews but would focus on discussing his work in the Senate and other activities related to his campaign instead of personal issues.
He pointed out that he paid attention to the budget and the joint session of Congress on the imposition of martial law in Maguindanao in December and hardly spent time on his campaign.
“I have other obligations and I must balance my work and the campaign because I promised to serve (as a lawmaker),” Aquino said.
He said he voted against the P1.541-trillion national budget because it contains provisions that are anomalous.
“Everyone is claiming they want change but where were they when we were discussing important issues like the budget? This is an important tool to influence the policy of government,” he added.
Aquino said he is prioritizing his work in the Senate over invitations to debates.
“I would not be able to do anything if I would keep debating with people,” he said. - With Aurea Calica