PDP-Laban to support presidential bet who will continue Duterte's agenda of change

As campaigning starts for May 9 polls, the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) said it would endorse the presidential candidate who would andhere and continue the legacy programs of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Cusi, president of PDP-Laban backed by Duterte, said that the presidential candidate "who will heed the clamor of the people for the continuity of Duterte's agenda of change will get our support."

"Let's make this an issue-based elections, not personality-based," the PDP-Laban official said in a statement.

"Being a major institution that adapts and responds to the challenges of the rapidly changing times, PDP-Laban has decided to endorse the presidential candidate who vows to continue the President's reform agenda," he added.

PDP-Laban is fielding some 6,592 national and local candidates in the May national and local elections, most of them incumbent governors, congressmen, and mayors. The party is the largest political party in the country today.

To stay true and committed to the party's 11-point agenda, Cusi assured the public that the PDP Laban "will veer away from 'personality-based politics' which have reduced many political organizations to irrelevancy in the past."

Instead, he said the PDP Laban will move towards politics that is "issue-based" to bring about meaningful change for the country."

"What the country needs now, especially during this time of the pandemic, is a presidential candidate who will continue the 'tapang at malasakit (courage and compassion' brand of leadership of President Duterte that the people want," Cusi said.

Cusi made the statement as Duterte maintained a "very good" net satisfaction rating of +60 based on the latest Social Weather Station's (SWS) survey of December 2021.

According to the SWS survey, Duterte has continued to enjoy the highest net satisfaction rate among the country' top officials

His +60 net satisfaction rating is 8 percent higher than his rating in September 2021 but 19 percent lower than in November 2020.

"The Build, Build, Build, Free Education, Universal Health Care, Free Irrigation, Barangay Development Program (BDP), and the whole of nation approach to end local communist armed conflict or NTF ELCAC are Duterte's legacy programs that Filipinos want to continue," Cusi said.

Cusi said that no other administration, but Duterte's has given so much hope and empowerment to the nation especially to the poorest of the poor, neglected, minority, indigenous people and of course, to our next generation.

"This administration has given them the power to be recognized, to be educated, to be sheltered and to live more peaceful and secure lives. The President inspired the nation to believe once again in the possibility of 'Pagbabago," he added.

On January 21, PDP-Laban's national executive committee announced it will back up vice presidential bet Sara Duterte-Carpio "based on her credentials, advocacies and vision for our nation" but did not mention yet who it will support for president.

Duterte-Caprio, the President's daughter is running for vice president under another party, with former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. as her running mate.

Source: TheManila Times