Quezon City, all fired up for presidential candidate Leni Robredo: Sea of pink in Quezon Memorial Circle as VP Leni presents plans for jobs, health
Quezon Memorial Circle was a sea of pink as over 20,000 supporters from all over Metro Manila were up bright and early for the Sunday morning proclamation rally of Vice President Leni Robredo.
Robredo has been blazing a trail across Luzon the past five days, starting in her home region of Bicol, then Batangas, Laguna, Olongapo, Bataan, and Zambales.
Accompanied by local officials from Quezon City, Robredo arrived at the Quezon Memorial Circle on board a pink mini truck. The presidential aspirant said it was the longest trip she had taken from the City Hall to the Quezon Circle – an hour, which normally takes minutes – because of the sea of people that lined the streets to welcome her.
“Para po sa inyo, talagang sinisipagan namin. Alam po natin na marami tayong kailangang trabahuin, pero yung pinapakita niyong pagmamahal, yun ang nagbibigay sa amin ng lakas. Para araw-araw, gigising ng maaga, more than 18 hours magtatrabaho,” said the presidential aspirant, her voice hoarse from the days of campaigning, but still steady and strong.
“Ang pinapangako po namin, isang leadership na matino at mahusay, isang pamahalaan na matapat, masipag, malinis, dahil ito lang yung paraan para umangat yung mga nasa laylayan,” Robredo said to the throng of supporters waving pink flaglets, many of whom had been at the circle before dawn, looking forward to the program that began at 6 a.m.
Robredo then presented part of her jobs plan, with the government providing unemployment insurance of 80 percent of an employee’s monthly salary for three months, after which it will assist in their job search.
“Ano pong [ibig sabihin] ng aangat ang lahat? Pag nawalan po ng hanapbuhay, ang kailangan ng pamahalaang gawin, saluhin yung mga nawalan ng hanapbuhay,” she said.
“Papano po sasaluhin? Halimbawa na lang, 'yung aming pong programa dito, kailangan sa unang tatlong buwan pagkatapos siyang mawalan ng hanapbuhay, kailangan siyang bigyan ng unemployment insurance ng 80 percent ng kaniyang sweldo. Pag tapos na 'yung pangatlong buwan na wala pa din siyang nahahanap na bagong trabaho, dapat ang gobyerno ang maghahanap ng kaniyang trabaho.”
Robredo also presented part of her health plan, which would provide free medical services for those in need.
"Pag siya po ay nagkasakit, hindi 'yung babangga siya kung kani-kanino para naghahanap ng makakatulong, ganoon 'yung ginagawa ng karamihan. Hindi nakakapag-dialysis, kahit kailangang uminom ng maintenance medicine, walang mainom na gamot; kahit kailangan ng doktor, walang pupuntahan na doktor kasi hindi nila alam kung papano sila makakahanap ng libreng duktor,” Robredo said, adding:
“Sa isang gobyernong matapat, hindi na kailangan bumunggo sa kung saan, pero ang pamahalaan ang magsisiguro na ang kaniyang kahirapan ay hindi magiging hadlang para makuha niya 'yung serbisyong medikal na kinakailangan niya."
Robredo was accompanied by her running mate, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and their senatorial candidates at the proclamation rally organized by the volunteer group, Kyusi4Leni, and the Robredo People’s Council (RPC). [End]