Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso vowed to continue the “Build, Build, Build” program in the whole of Samar to help uplift the lives of residents in one of the poorest islands in the country.
Domagoso issued the statement when asked to comment about the absence of infrastructure projects in the province, which is composed of Northern, Eastern and Western Samar.
“You know Samar, correct me if I’m wrong, for the past 60 years, no national official has been elected here at the national level. My point is maybe it’s time – these Waray-Waray compatriots of ours – to unite [behind] the son of Waray, right?” the presidential aspirant said.
Domagoso’s mother, Rosario “Nanay Chayong” Moreno, hails from Allen town, Northern Samar. His father, Joaquin Domagoso, was from Antique in Panay Island – making the mayor a full-blooded Visayan: one-half Waray and one-half Ilonggo.
“Why was it left behind? Samar is one of the poorest towns in the province,” he added.
Samar is the third largest island in the country and faces the Pacific Ocean, making it one of the most vulnerable regions to typhoons.
If elected president, Domagoso vowed to address the perennial problems of poverty, hunger, unemployment, inequality and social injustice in the country by focusing on providing the minimum basic needs of the people – housing, education, health care and jobs – through the efficient and prudent management of government resources. These form the main pillars of his 10-Point Bilis Kilos Economic Agenda.
To improve the country’s health care system, Domagoso said his administration will build more public hospitals and health care centers throughout the country, with a target of providing 107,000 additional hospital beds in his first 1,000 days in office.
He also plans to boost the country’s digital infrastructure by building and completing a national fiber backbone that will connect all schools, government offices and industries that rely heavily on internet connectivity.
“We will find a real solution and quick action so we will do what we can to continue the fight,” he added.