Roxas hints on seeking higher position, laughs off sliding down to VP post

DILG Secretary and Liberal Party frontrunner for 2016 Mar Roxas (Photo from Roxas’ official Facebook page)

DAVAO CITY, May 22 (PNA) -– Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas laughed at speculations of sliding down as vice presidential bet in the 2016 elections giving hints he would not settle in any positions but the presidency.

“Ako ay interesadong ipagpatuloy ang Daang Matuwid. Lahat kami ay kasama ni Presidente Noy na sinsero na nagnanais na maihatid sa isang magandang bukas ang ating mga kababayan (I am interested to continue the straight path. All of us are with President Noy sincerely aiming to bring our people to a good future),” Roxas said in an interview during the event organized by the Koalisyon ng mga Mamamayan Para sa Reporma (KOMPRe) in Lanang, this city on Thursday afternoon.

Roxas however continue to evade answering directly if he is eyeing the presidency in 2016, saying that he is not (interested) for any position.

Roxas emphasized that the people know his track record – “malinis, may karanasan, may kakayahan. Palagay ko sila ang pinakamabuting mag-desisyon po” (clean, with experience, with capability. I guess they are the best to decide).

Roxas said the past year saw the government’s performance though not perfect and sometimes not so perfect; their leadership is sincere, honest and transparent. “Gusto ko magpatuloy ito para marating ang magandang bukas (I want this to continue so we can have a good future),” he said.

The DILG secretary was in Davao City to join KOMPre, a program which aims to link people to government agencies for easier access to crucial services.

Roxas, together with officials from national government agencies, led the symbolic distribution of food packs and wheel chairs offered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the residents of Barangay Lasang.

Dubbed as “Ramdam ko ang Reporma,” the event was participated by eight agencies namely: the DSWD, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Justice (DOJ), National Youth Commission (NYC), PhilHealth, and Social Security System (SSS). KOMPRe is a gathering of different organizations and individuals working together to sustain the wave of reforms undertaken in the name of “Daang Matuwid” by the Aquino administration.

DILG has taken the lead in implementing anti-poverty projects through the Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB) program, wherein local government units (LGUs) in partnership with civil society organizations (CSOs), identify, allot for, implement, and monitor priority projects or programs at the grassroots level.