Roxas: Continuity of ‘Daang Matuwid’ for greater PHL prosperity

Presidential candidate Mar Roxas with running mate Rep. Leni Robredo during a campaign.
(Photo from Roxas’ official Facebook page)

MANILA – Liberal Party (LP) standard- bearer Mar Roxas II said there’s a need to continue to implement various programs under the “Daang Matuwid” for a better Philippines.

“Over the last five years, we’ve accomplished so much, we have attained investment grade status internationally. We have improved our competitiveness standing and our ease of doing business standing by 40, 50 points in international grading. Interest rates have come down from 18, 20, 25 percent, to now at 6, 8, 10 percent. There are millions of jobs that are being created annually. That’s why we want to continue down this path, this straight and narrow ‘Daang Matuwid’ path, so that we can continue the progress that our country is now experiencing,” said Roxas in his talk with overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong on Sunday as part of his campaign together with running mate Leni Robredo.

As of this time, Roxas said the Aquino administration has already addressed the most immediate problems “and we have stabilized the situation and created a good foundation for the next phase or the next take-off from where we were.”

“The situation today is much, much different. But it’s still not in Olympic status.

So, we need to continue improving, training, building up strength, so that we can run faster than where we are today,” he said.

Roxas cited that for over the last five years, more than seven million people have crossed over from below poverty to above poverty level.

“We’re not saying that they’re rich. But what we’re saying is, what was once before hand-to-mouth existence, subsistence existence, they now have some kaginhawanan or some relief in their everyday lives because they have jobs, they have incomes, and they have 4Ps, they have PhilHealth, and they have government services so that they’re not anymore in subsistence situation,” he noted.

“Now, we need to continue this so that there can be greater prosperity in all of their lives,” he said.

Roxas urged the OFWs in Hong Kong to trust him in leading the country towards progress and prosperity.

“Hinding hindi ko ilalagay sa alanganin o kapahamakan ‘yung tiwala na ipinagkakaloob sa atin ng ating mga kababayan. Ang ating mga kababayan at nagtiwala sa Daang Matuwid. Ang ating mga kababayan at nagtiwala kay Mar Roxas. Dalawampung taon mahigit ang ating panunungkulan, malinis, ni minsan hindi nabahiran ng kahit anong anomalya. Hindi ko ito isusugal dahil lamang sa kakilala, kapartido, kapadrino, kung sino pa. Makakaasa po kayo na ang inyong interes ang siyang mangingibabaw dahil para sa akin, kayo ang lakas na pinanghuhugutan ko para sa pundasyon ng ating isinusulong,” he said.