Caloocan residents reach out to touch Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during his campaign rally in Barangay Bagong Silang. PHOTO BY RUY L. MARTINEZ
The vice presidential bid of Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos was boosted anew after he was endorsed by the Eusebios of Pasig City.
“One hundred percent tayong tutulong kay VP (vice president) Bongbong Marcos.
Sisiguruhin namin na 100 percent na maipapanalo namin siya dito sa Pasig City. Siya ang unang vice presidential candidate na bumaba dito sa atin (We will help Vice President Bongbong Marcos. We will ensure that he will win here 100 percent. He’s the first vice presidential candidate to come here),” councilor Ricky Eusebio said during Marcos’ rally held at Barangay Maybunga.
Ricky, one of the sons of former mayor Vicente Eusebio, is running for congressman.
Vicente’s wife, Idad, also served as mayor as well as the couple’s other son, Bobby. Bobby’s wife, Maribel, is the incumbent mayor.
Marcos expressed gratitude to the Eusebios.
Before attending the rally, Marcos took his Unity Caravan on a motorcade around Pasig passing barangays Kapasigan, Pinagbuhatan, Palatiw, San Miguel, Caniogan, and Maybunga.
On Monday, San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez also endorsed the candidacy of Marcos.
Land reform
Marcos also vowed to pursue urban land reform and improve its implementation to improve the lives of urban poor.
In a press briefing after a going around various barangays in Caloocan City, Marcos lamented that the government has dropped the ball when it comes to the implementation of urban land reform.
Among the areas Marcos visited is Barangay 176 in Bagong Silang, a government resettlement site. It is considered the biggest barangay in the Philippines in terms of land area and population.
“We will strive to pursue real urban land reform program. Apparently our current leaders are clueless on how this should be done properly,” the vice presidential candidate said.
He noted that unlike the relocation project in Bagong Silang, many of the current relocation sites for poor urban dwellers comprise simply of bare house and lot.
“If you recall the government agency originally tasked to implement urban land reform was the Ministry of Human Settlements—that’s how the agency is called because they strive to establish local communities,” Marcos said.
Marcos said that under urban land reform in the past, relocation of urban dwellers meant not just a house and lot but also basic necessities such as water and electricity, as well as available jobs and important facilities such as market, church and school.
“I hope to return to the concept that relocation is not simply about a house but that it includes the basic necessities to live decently,” he said. “That is what I will continue to try and do.”