Cariaga: Ditch ayuda, create jobs to fight poverty

CEBU, Philippines — Salvador Cariaga, who considers himself the least known among the candidates for Cebu’s 4th District representative position, is banking on his advocacy for self-sufficiency and job creation over financial aid to stand out in the congressional race.

An independent candidate from Bogo City, Cariaga said the country must move away from the practice of distributing ayuda, or financial assistance, and instead focus on generating employment opportunities to break the cycle of poverty and dependency.

In his recent guest appearance on The Freeman’s “Know Your Candidate,” Cariaga strongly criticized the practice of giving ayuda—a form of aid commonly associated with elected officials, particularly members of Congress.

“Ayuda should be stopped. It [is] not the solution to our problem. Ang kinahanglan sa mga tao, dili ayuda, kundi trabaho,” he said.

Cariaga outlined four key points about what ayuda signifies in a politician’s career: First, it is a cheap tactic to get elected. Second, it is the fallback of incompetent politicians seeking to win hearts and votes.

Third, it is only a temporary solution to a long-term problem. And lastly, it reveals that politicians are not truly interested in long-term solutions.

A farm owner in Bogo, Cariaga said he has already proven that people can thrive without ayuda. He built a small community where women—especially those from poor households with no stable income—produce bracelets made from recycled paper.

He said the initiative has thrived and helped empower locals to become self-sustaining.

“As a politician, my main job is to help match these things. My focus is to invite more investors to the Philippines and establish companies that will provide jobs for the people,” Cariaga said.

He emphasized that once people have jobs and can meet their own needs, politicians will become “insignificant.” But until that happens, he said, many Filipinos remain vulnerable to patronage politics.

“The objectives of the traditional politicians are to be in power, to stay important, and stay relevant—the way to do that is to keep people poor,” he said.

If elected, Cariaga said he will push to end the aid-dependent mindset, arguing that “the true solution to poverty is not aid, but trade.”

“I am teaching people how to fish, not just giving people fish,” he said. “If we do that, the Philippines can become self-sustaining.”

Plans and Projects

Cariaga, who describes himself as a political outsider and newcomer, said his legislative agenda will focus on addressing poverty from the ground up.

“I’m going to use my life’s experience in dealing with the poor, in helping people achieve self-sustainability,” he said.

In Cebu’s 4th District, he identified two major concerns: access to water and lack of job opportunities.

He noted that many vacant lots in Bogo City remain idle due to water shortages, which hinder both agriculture and livestock production. Even household water is now being rationed, with wells running dry.

To address this, Cariaga proposes building dams and creating sustainable water systems—not just in Bogo, but across the district. Rainwater collected through these dams, he said, could be used for irrigation, power generation, tourism development, and even fish farming.

To fund the project, Cariaga said he will seek assistance from international donors, using his background in fundraising, grant writing, and securing support from philanthropists and foreign aid programs.

“As a fundraiser, I was able to build a community in Bogo without the help of the government,” he said.

Campaign

On his second attempt at public office, Cariaga said his campaign is less about victory and more about voter education.

“Even if I do not win—win or lose—I think I win,” he said.

His goal, he added, is to raise awareness that voters should choose leaders based on vision, not money.

With no big party behind him, Cariaga takes a unique approach to campaigning. While rivals put up billboards and distribute branded giveaways, Cariaga’s volunteers write his name on sacks of rice and cement—both as campaign materials and statements on recycling.

“I am into that because I am into recycling,” he said.

Instead of joining motorcades, he walks through neighborhoods in his cowboy boots, greeting residents and talking to them directly.

While he runs independently, he said his campaign is not a solo effort. Many of his volunteers are young people inspired by his ideals.

“I am planting seeds of idealism in them. I believe that the young people are my best partners because they are still in the stage where they are not giving up on their country,” he said.

West Philippine Sea

Cariaga, a vocal human rights advocate, has taken a strong stance on the West Philippine Sea, insisting that the area rightfully belongs to the Philippines.

“The United Nations have already granted us and declared us that we have a right to these things. It is stupid, it is folly, and it is treason for anybody to say it belongs to China,” he said.

He said that if elected to Congress, he would use his platform to push back against China’s aggression and defend the country’s sovereignty.

“China is becoming more aggressive, they are taking over the Philippine Sea, and the Philippines should stand for its national sovereignty,” he said. “We don’t have to go to war, but we can fight it in many different ways.”

He added that lawmakers can support the country’s position through legal, diplomatic, and international channels, including those provided by the United Nations.

ON VP'S PENDING IMPEACHMENT

Cariaga also weighed in on the impeachment complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, saying lawmakers were right to take action.

“Thank God for that, because government officials should be held accountable for the people’s money,” he said.

He said the Department of Education—under the vice president’s leadership and the government’s largest budget holder—requires strict transparency.

“There is obviously lack of accountability of those who held those money,” he said.

However, he stressed that accountability should apply to all public officials—not just the vice president.

“It doesn’t just refer to the Vice President, but to any government official. They should not hide behind confidential funds because it is not confidential—it is people’s money,” he said.

If elected, Cariaga vowed to speak “strongly, loudly, and vocally” against corruption, which he said is “endemic” not just in the Office of the Vice President but across all levels of government. - /ATO (FREEMAN)