Isko says he will turn Philippines into next Singapore

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno laid out his plan to turn the Philippines into the next Singapore should he win the presidency in Eleksyon 2022.

“It’s easy to say we can be a Singapore. Singapore is a very small country. It’s manageable,” Moreno said in an interview with Rappler.

“But there’s no harm in achieving or trying to achieve what Singaporeans achieved, kasi sila yung pinakamalapit sa atin at sa kasaysayan, pinaka-dugyot ang Singapore [because they are the closest to us and in history, Singapore is the worst],” he added.

The mayor went on to say that the first two years of his presidency would be very crucial.

“I think the first two years matter most to me of that six years mandate. Which is paano tayo makakatawid sa pandemyang ito? While we aspire better things, good things, kapag gutom ang tao, namatay ang tao sa sakit, balewala lahat ‘yan,” Moreno stressed.

(I think the first two years matter most to me of that six-year mandate. How can we cross this pandemic? While we aspire for better things, good things, when a person is hungry, a person dies of disease, it all doesn’t matter.)

“There’s nothing to govern if people are dying. So, I’ll go back to basic. Tawid lang kita,” he added.

Moreno in January unveiled his 10-point economic plan which includes housing, education, labor and employment, health, tourism and creatives, infrastructure, digital information and industry 4.0, agriculture, good governance, and smart governance.

Of these, he said his administration will focus on livelihood as well as the minimum basic needs such as housing, schools, and hospitals.—LDF, GMA News