VP Leni Robredo visits fisherfolk beneficiaries in Mindoro, pledges to uphold their rights
The usually quiet seaside City of Calapan, Mindoro Oriental was abuzz with activity when Vice President Leni Robredo visited the community on Thursday, March 3.
Robredo made several stops in the city as she toured around the province of Oriental Mindoro.
The presidential aspirant first visited Barangay Wawa to meet the Samahan ng Kalipenyong Mangingisda (SAKAG), a community of fisherfolk who were the beneficiaries of the Sustainable Livelihood Subsidy turned over in February 2022.
The group used the subsidy to purchase fish aggregating devices, which they expect to be operational in two to three months.
"[Masaya] ako na sa inyo mismo naririnig ko na malaking tulong ito para sa mga mangingisda dito dahil 'yun naman 'yung pinakasadya natin," said Robredo.
She also signed a Covenant with the Mangingisda for Leni-Kiko, which, among others, aims to hold Robredo accountable for upholding the rights of fisherfolk, should she win the presidency in May 9.
"Ito po hindi lang ito pirmahan dahil may kampanya, pero commitment ito,” Robredo said. “Commitment na ‘pag tayo 'yung binigyan ng pagkakataon, sisiguraduhin natin na lahat ng puntos magagawa agad-agad para naman 'yung anim na taon na ibibigay sa atin sapat para kahit papano maiahon 'yung pagbuhay ng bawat isa sa inyo.”
The highlight for many was the People's Rally at the Divine Word College of Calapan (DWCC) later in the afternoon.
Thousands of volunteers and supporters flooded the college’s open field, many of them camping out in the scorching heat as early as noon.
By the time Robredo made it to the stage, the crowd—composed mostly of young adults, many bearing creatively designed posters of support—were chanting alongside the emcees of the rally.
The Vice President reiterated her amazement at the vibrance of the grassroots movement of the Leni-Kiko volunteers.
"[Ngayong] kampanya po, sobrang iba dahil taumbayan mismo 'yung gumagalaw. Napansin niyo ba 'yun? Napansin niyo? Tingnan niyo po 'yung mga katabi niyo. Marami 'yung naka-pink pero iba iba 'yung t-shirt ninyo. Iba-ibang mga pink, iba-ibang pag-print. Iba-iba 'yung nakasulat. Marami dito, kanya-kanyang gawa ng mga signs. Ito 'yung nagbibigay sa amin ng energy saka insipirasyon sa amin lahat," she told the crowd.
Robredo won in the province of Oriental Mindoro back in 2016, and she’s banking on a repeat in May. She ended her speech with a message of hope, saying that while it’s usually the candidates who inspire the people, this time it’s people themselves giving hope for the future.
"Ang pinapakita po dito, taumbayan mismo ang inspirado. Taumbayan ang nagbibigay ng pag-asa na puwede pang magbago 'yung ating kinabukasan pag tayo ay gumalaw ngayon," she said. "'Yung pagmamahal na pinakita niyo sa amin, ito po 'yung magbibigay sa amin ng lakas at inspirasyon sa susunod na 68 days.”
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