Roxas: ‘I am ready to continue serving the people thru Tuwid na Daan’

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

DONA REMEDIOS TRINIDAD, Bulacan — Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas continues to dodge questions on his plans for the 2016 presidential elections.

However, Roxas on Tuesday told reporters here that he is ready to continue serving the people through the “Tuwid na Daan” policy of the Aquino administration.

Roxas was asked by mediamen on his reaction to President Benigno Aquino III’s announcement that he (Roxas) is still on the top list of the chief executive’s choice as the presidential standard bearer of the ruling Liberal Party in the May 2016 elections.

“Eto lang ang masasabi natin diyan—handa po tayo na tangapin ang hamon para ipagpatuloy ang magandang adhikain ng pamahalaan sa pagtahak sa tuwid na daan (This is all I can say regarding that matter—I am ready to accept the challenge to continue the good advocacy of the government through “Tuwid na Daan) ,” a smiling Roxas said before closing the impromptu press briefing held after the formal opening of the Salintubig water system project of the DILG and the municipal government here on Tuesday morning.

Roxas said that he is giving priority to government programs and projects that aim to uplift the living conditions of the people and making sure that it is properly done and successfully implemented.

Roxas, together with Mayor Ronaldo T. Flores and DILG Region 3 director Florida M. Dijan, led the formal opening of the Salintubig water system project.

Under Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG’s) Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Para sa Lahat (Salintubig) program, Roxas targets to provide clean and potable water supply to almost 455 waterless municipalities in the Philippines.

The DILG secretary said that at least 1, 360 households in several mountain villages here will now have access to clean potable water.

“This is a genuine and honest assistance from the government. Our constituents from the mountain villages here will finally taste the blessings coming from the natural resources,” Roxas said, adding that the project cost is Php8,060,000.

Flores said that when he assumed post as mayor of this town in 2010, many villages have no access to potable water.

”Before, our townmates need to wake up early to walk some miles just to get potable water. This time, clean and potable water will flow to their respective homes,” Flores said.

He also said that the water is pure mineral water because it is coming from natural mountain springs.

The Salintubig water system also provide irrigation to at least 100 hectares of farm lands in this mountain resort town, Flores added.

Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado thanked President Aquino and Secretary Roxas for providing good projects and supporting livelihood projects for the people of Bulacan.

“There are good projects which aim to uplift the lives of our constituents are being implemented and promoted by the President in our province,” Alvarado said.

Aside from the Salintubig water system project, the DILG chief also gave a check worth Php3.5 million to the municipal government for another water system project for the upland villages of Talbak and Sapang Putik.