Teodoro vows to spark economic activities

MANILA, Philippines - Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. vowed to spark economic activities in the countryside to uplift the living standard of Filipinos who are yet to enjoy the modernity and benefits of their compatriots in urban areas in Luzon.

“Under a Teodoro administration, people in the Visayas and Mindanao will no longer complain they feel they are second-class citizens in their own country,” Sarangani Gov. Rene Miguel Dominguez, Lakas-Kampi-CMD national president, said in a statement.

Dominguez said Teodoro noted the economic disparity of people in the urban areas compared to those living in the countryside.

He said Teodoro, once elected president, will work on giving equal opportunity to rural folk since they are often denied economic stability compared to those living in Metro Manila and other urban areas in Luzon.

Although he gave assurance that people in Luzon need not fear about enjoying less of the national economic pie, Dominguez said Teodoro will focus on programs and projects to make poor areas in the Visayas and Mindanao more attuned to business, politically stable, and relatively peaceful for local and foreign investors to come in.

“Take the Maguindanao massacre crisis, if we cut the vicious cycle of poverty, illiteracy, violence and terrorism, we would not have had this problem with the Ampatuans and the hundreds of millions we spend for the police and the Army to keep peace there could have been spent in building vital roads and bridges to make the place accessible to investors,” Dominguez said.

Dominguez said Teodoro’s deep concern for the poor provinces has endeared him to Visayan governors who recently pledged to support the former defense secretary’s candidacy “sink or swim.”

Those who recently signed a manifesto of support for Teodoro included Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia, Antique Gov. Sally Perez, Guimaras Gov. Felipe Nava, Aklan Gov. Carlito Marguez, Siquijor Gov. Orlando Fua, Eastern Samar Gov. Domingo Evardone, Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Sayco, Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado, and Dominguez.