Fernando to return to private life if he loses VP bid

MANILA, Philippines - Former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando said he will return to private life if his bid for vice president in the May elections next year will not be successful.

“If not elected, I will return to private life. Masyadong nakakapagod itong trabahong ito,” Fernando told editors and staff members of The Philippine STAR Monday night in Manila.

Fernando, who is running under the Bagumbayan ticket with Sen. Richard Gordon as the presidential candidate, believes he will be elected to the second highest political position in the country.

Fernando said if he is elected he would immediately focus on efforts to alleviate poverty through his brand of political will.

He said he intends to boost the productivity of Filipinos through the generation of jobs and people will have more cash to buy more luxury items.

“If farmers will be more productive, they could have more money to buy let’s say, a television set. By buying that TV set, the farmer would create jobs for factory workers making TV sets,” he said.

Fernando said his concept of productivity is best exemplified by St. Paul, who told the Christians of Thessalonica “that if anyone will not work, let him not eat.”

Fernando said Filipinos in the Philippines should take a cue from Filipinos working abroad, who are more conscious of their productivity since they are being paid by the hour, with their quality of work always being monitored.

“Here in the Philippines, people can always say that they can afford to get fired as they can always become vendors in the sidewalk,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fernando said he would overhaul the country’s education system and help develop more productive citizens.

Fernando intends to make information technology a part of the daily lives of elementary and high school students.

He also proposed that tests on students be conducted by a national body and not by the individual teachers. The performance of teachers will also be closely monitored and those not performing will be weeded out.

Fernando said that students in public schools tend to learn more from watching the Discovery Channel than attending their classes.