TACLOBAN CITY — The Mahalin Natin ang Pilipinas Ride (MNPR) has helped Vice Presidential aspirant Sara Duterte see for herself the situation in typhoon-stricken towns in the Visayas.
“Nakita ko na yung mga areas na dinaanan ni Typhoon Odette ay hindi pa nakabangon talaga ‘yung mga tao, kung nakikita nyo doon sa ride meron pa ring mga nagpu-put up ng signs na ‘help us’,” Sara said.
Sara said she had to stop and ask upon seeing people asking for help.
“Ang lagi nilang sinasabi okay naman sa pagkain, ang problema namin is yung bubong o mga G.I. sheets na kailangan namin para sa mga bahay namin,” she told reporters on Friday morning.
Sara also said communication and power lines were still being restored in some areas.
“Meron talagang areas na wala pa talagang internet hanggang ngayon or spotty yung internet,” she said.
Sara admitted that she was happy doing the caravan because she was learning a lot from the people she met.
“I am happy na ginawa natin itong Mahalin Natin ang Pilipinas Ride dahil madami akong natututunan. It’s worth the pagod at hirap, everyday maaga at gabi na natatapos, dahil nakikita ko yung countrysides, otherwise, if I did not do it, I would not have seen the situation on the ground,” she said.
Meanwhile, Duterte attended the inauguration of the Uniteam Headquarters in Tacloban, where she met Lakas-CMD President and Majority Floor Leader Martin Romualdez together with the sectoral leaders of Tingog Partylist.
Sara underscored the importance of coming out as a strong nation in attracting foreign investors and in advancing economic prosperity.
“Importante nga makit-an sa tibuok kalibutan nga kusog ang Pilipinas kay importante sa atoa nga dunay mga negosyante nga magsige og tan-aw sa Pilipinas ug magpasulod sa ilahang kwarta diri sa Pilipinas (It is important that the world sees Philippines as a strong country so they will bring in investments), Sara said.
Sara also stressed the importance of ensuring that foreign investments are protected.
“That is the only way that we can improve our economy immediately if foreign investors look into our country and believe that their investments are safe with our government. The only way that we can do that is tell them that our country is strong because everyone is united towards one common goal– that is peace and development,” the mayor added.
Duterte is in the Visayas for her Vice Presidential campaign caravan. The team is expected to arrive in Luzon tomorrow via Sorsogon.
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