Duterte breaks bread with Manila’s poor, seeks help in governance

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday broke bread with poor folk in Tondo, Manila and sought their help as he took on the tasks of the presidency.

"Ayaw ko kayong biguin at ako naman hindi mahilig diyan sa promise-promise. Pag nag-bitaw ako ng salita, yun na yun," Duterte said at the Solidarity Dinner with the Poor at the Delpan Sports Complex on Thursday night.

"Wala nang atrasan yan. Marami pong salamat at magtiis-tiis lang po kayo ng konti, at tulungan ninyo ako sa gobyerno," he added.

Duterte, who took his oath of office earlier in the day, thanked Manila's poor for his victory in the city.

"Maski saan mo bilangin, maski dito sa Tondo, wala ako ni isang lider kungdi kayo. Kayo mismo ang tumanggap sa akin. Walang lider-lider," Duterte said.

Duterte won in Manila with more than 320,000 votes. He also dominated the elections in Tondo with more than 115,000 votes.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada endorsed the candidacy of Senator Grace Poe in the last elections.

Duterte said that the event was meant to show that he has not forgotten the poor outside Malacañang.

He even told them that his audience thet they were welcome in the Palace.

"Pwede kayong pumasok sa Malacañang," he said.

Duterte was with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo.

Before making his speech, Freddie Aguilar played his campaign song to the crowd's glee.

Education, health, agriculture

Duterte told residents of Tondo, Manila that he will prioritize education, health, and agriculture.

“Sisikapin ko na kayo, mga anak n'yo ay makapag-aral,” he said.

He reiterated his plans to allocate funds from PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) to health services.

Not only that, he will also look into the state of the agriculture sector in the country.

“Ang mga lupa, gusto ko ibalik sa mga tenant,” he said.

Aid not arms

Duterte told Tondo folks that one of the reasons why he wants to achieve peace between Moro rebels and communists.

“I find it hard, magpirma ho ako ng resibo na bibili ako ng bomba, ng mortar, pati bala para patayin ko lang ang kapwa ko Filipino. Napakahirap po,” he said.

“Sana iyong pera pambili ko ng bala, maitulong ko sa inyo. Bahay, resettlement, trapik ng Maynila,” Duterte added.

He also prayed to Allah, saying that the peace talks will bear good results.

"Ako po ay humihingi ng tulong kay Allah na tulungan tayong lahat,” he said. —NB, GMA News