Ka Leody says press freedom should be protected, allowed to thrive

Labor leader and presidential aspirant Leody de Guzman on Thursday said freedom of the press in the Philippines should be protected and allowed to thrive.

“Payabungin pa ang press freedom sa ating bansa at proteksyunan pa rin sila. Huwag nating sansalahin at barahin o pigilan ‘yung malayang pamamahayag dahil diyan tayo nakakakuha ng bagong ideas, bagong pamamaraan, bagong pamamahala para sa maunlad na lipunan,” he said in a radio interview.

(Let's protect and allow press freedom in our country to thrive. Let us not hinder, oppose, or prevent press freedom because that is where we get new ideas, new methods, and new governance for a prosperous society.)

'Labor first' policy

De Guzman said that if he wins the May 9 polls, he would prioritize making the wages of the employees in provinces the same as in Metro Manila.

“Ang aking immediate na gagawin, ‘yung sahod ng mga manggagawa sa probinsya, automatic agad dapat itaas natin, ipantay natin sa sahod ng taga-Metro Manila,” he said.

(My immediate action if elected is to automatically raise the wages of those in the provinces and make it equal to the wages of those from Metro Manila.)

He emphasized that he does not see the essence of varying salary rates when the prices of the goods and services, as well as the value-added tax, in the provinces and in Metro Manila are just the same.

“Kaya walang katwiran ‘yan kundi bigyang pabor ‘yung malalaking negosyante sa ating bansa na may mga branches sa mga probinsya para makatipid. ‘Yun lang ‘yun eh,” he said.

(There is no reason for that but only to favor the big businessmen in our country who have branches in the provinces to save money.)

The labor leader said his administration would not focus on policies on business but on labor to help regular workers.

Housing

Moreover, de Guzman said that he would address the housing problem of some 6.7 million Filipinos.

“Kung hindi man libre na maibigay natin ay ‘yung abot kayang pabahay ang maibigay natin sa kanila. Public housing ang ibig natin sa kanila na mura, disente, at nandoon sa ligtas,” he added.

(If we can't give them houses for free, then let’s give them affordable ones. Let’s grant them public housing that is cheap, decent, and located in a safe area.)

ABS-CBN

If he wins in the 2022 elections, De Guzman also said he would try to run after ABS-CBN Corp’s analog and digital broadcast frequencies that were recently given to Villar-led Advanced Media Broadcasting System, Inc. (AMBS) by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

“Kung kaya pa, tutal probational authority o provisional ‘yung rights na ibinigay sa kanila. Sa Mayo, sa darating na Mayo, kung sakali, hahabulin ko ‘yun,” he said.

(If it’s still possible, I would run after it in May because it's still provisional.)

The National Telecommunications Commission earlier said it granted AMBS the provisional authority to install, operate and maintain a digital television broadcasting system in Metro Manila/Mega Manila using Channel 16 after "the determination of its legal, technical, and financial qualification."

Channel 16 was formerly ABS-CBN’s digital TV frequency. —KBK, GMA News