Romualdez: Bright future awaits Pinoys under Marcos, Sara

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos can look forward to a “better life” under the leadership of president-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and vice-president elect Sara Duterte, House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez said yesterday.

The “biggest challenge” that the incoming administration will face is “reducing poverty through the attainment of inclusive growth,” according to Romualdez.

“Everyone should benefit from the gains of economic growth,” he said.

He added that this is what he aims for “in Tacloban and even in the whole of Eastern Visayas in the next three years under my next term as your representative in the 19th Congress.”

Romualdez emphasized that achieving such a goal may be a “tall order,” given that inflation is rising, the budget deficit is widening and the global economic outlook is bleak.

“But the election of dynamic and compassionate leaders at the highest levels of government gives us all hope of a brighter future,” he said.

The lawmaker made the statements during his inaugural address after taking his oath of office yesterday in Tacloban City with Duterte as witness.

Romualdez took his oath before Barangay 109-A chairman Rodolfo Padillo at the Remedios T. Romualdez Medical Foundation Gymnasium along Calanipawan Road.

Other officials who took their oaths before Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Bautista Corpin Jr. were Tingog representatives-elect Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez.

Sara thanks Martin

Duterte yesterday thanked Romualdez for taking her in to Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), which she described as among the oldest and most respected political parties in the country.

Speaking as a guest-witness at Romualdez’s oath-taking in Tacloban City, Duterte also had words of appreciation for for his role as one of her two campaign managers during the May 9 elections.

“I’d like to personally publicly thank Cong. Martin Romualdez for taking me in, in Lakas-CMD and accepting the challenge to be my campaign manager, one of my two campaign managers during the last elections. It was not without ... challenges, but you did very well… 32.2 million votes,” Duterte said.

Romualdez “did it all” for her, covering even for her meals during the grueling campaign period, according to the vice president-elect.

“So I am truly thankful for all that happened because (it was) a learning experience for me, and I (appreciate) all that you have taught me, all of you, my fellow countrymen, and I commit to be beside you in the service of our country,” Duterte said in English and Filipino.

Her other campaign manager is Davao Occidental Gov. Claude Bautista. –  Janvic Mateo, Paolo Romero, Evelyn Macairan, Pia Lee-Brago