The tandem of presidential and vice-presidential aspirants Leodegario “Ka Leody” de Guzman and Walden Bello will push for more opportunities for fishermen and farmers to address the problems of food security if they get elected in Eleksyon 2022.
During the online Pandesal Forum, De Guzman shared that if they win the May 2022 polls, their first 100 days will address the problems in food security to achieve the level of “food sovereignty” in the country.
“Yung priority namin likhain yung sapat na pagkain dito sa ating bayan na sa ganoon magkaroon ng oportunidad yung ating mga mamamayan na makabili ng pagkaing kailangan nila. Para magawa ‘yan yung suporta namin sa magsasaka at mangingisda para sa produktibidad sa pagkain at abutin yung isang level na food sovereignty sa ating bayan,” he said.
(Our priority is to create food security in the country so that our people will have the opportunity to buy the food they need. To do that, we need to support our farmers and fishermen for food productivity and to reach a level of food sovereignty in our country.)
The labor leader underscored that the country should also export agricultural products to give livelihood for the farmers and fishermen.
“Hindi na puwede yung galunggong nag-iimport tayo, yung bawang, sibuyas, mani, hindi na natin kaya magimport niyan, dapat tayo yung nag-eexport dahil tayo ang agrikultural na bansa,” he said.
(We will no longer import galunggong, garlic, onion, peanuts, we can no longer import that, we must export because we are an agricultural country.)
De Guzman said they will also implement the labor first policy, adding that Filipinos should work hard to earn a living.
“Gusto ko lang klaruhin ang ibig sabihin niyan lahat ng mga tao na obligado magtrabaho para mabuhay yan ang pinatutungkulan namin ng labor at hindi parang mga tipikal na manggagawa sa pabrika, government employee o kaya call center hindi lang ‘yun kung hindi lahat ng tao kailangan magpapawis at mabuhay,” he added.
(I just want to clarify that all people who are obliged to work should work hard to make a living, that’s what we meant and it’s not like typical factory workers, government employees or call centers, that’s not all, everyone has to work hard to earn a living.)
Health recovery plan amid COVID-19 pandemic
Meanwhile, Bello said they have a proposed P1.4-trillion economic and health stimulus plan to help the country emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Meron ho kaming P1.4 trillion economic and health and stimulus plan nasa plano na yan, kasama na ‘yan yung vaccination plan yung para makakamit tayo ng herd immunity at yung mga pagbili ng ibat ibang kailangan ng medisina,” Bello said.
(We have a P1.4 trillion economic and health and stimulus plan in that plan, which includes the vaccination plan so that we can achieve herd immunity and to purchase other medical necessities.)
De Guzman noted that they will also increase the salary, provide more benefits, and hazard pays for the health frontliners amid COVID-19 pandemic.
He also called to support the call of the frontliners for just and right compensation in order to prevent them to leave the country and took opportunities abroad.
“Sa ganoon ay hindi sila lumayas kasi delikado paglumayas sila eh delikado yung magiging kalagayan natin dahil alam natin nasa kamay ng ating mga frontliners ang kaligtasan natin dito sa COVID, pagdumating pa yung sa Omicron ay delikado yon kaya susuportahan natin sila,” he said.
(That way, they won’t leave because it’s dangerous for them to leave in this situation because our safety is in the hands of our frontliners, when the new Omicron COVID-19 variant comes it will be dangerous so we need to support them.)
De Guzman is the presidential candidate of the Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM).
Both he and Bello are running under Laban ng Masa, a broader coalition of progressive groups. — RSJ, GMA News
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