Pacquiao mulls turning balut, salted egg production into major export industry

Presidential aspirant and Senator Manny Pacquiao has proposed turning the balut and salted egg industry as a major exporter.

“Yung balut saka itlog na maalat ng Pateros kilalang-kilala hindi lang sa Pilipinas kundi maging sa ibang bansa. Parang exotic na pagkain kasi mga yan sa mga ibang nationality kaya dapat pag-aralan kung paano nating gawing major export ang balut at itlog na maalat, “ Pacquiao said in a statement released Wednesday.

(The duck egg and salted egg  of Pateros is well-known not only in the Philippines but also in other countries. These seem to be exotic foods to other nationalities so we should study how we will make balut and salted eggs major exports.)

Pacquiao made the statement as he visited the municipality of Pateros on Tuesday to campaign for the May elections.

“Huwag sana nating pabayaan kahit yung mga maliliit na munisipalidad dahil malaki rin ang ambag nila sa ating ekonomiya,” he said.

(Let us not neglect the small municipalities because they also contribute a lot to our economy.)

At a community forum in Barangay San Juan, Pacquiao reiterated his agenda of sending corrupt government officials to jail, saying they only make their jobs a matter of business.

“Dahil sa katiwalian, malaking pera ang nawawala sa gobyerno. Paliit nang paliit ang revenue habang palaki naman nang palaki ang budget. Marami kasing mga appointed official na puro pagnanakaw ang inaatupag,” Pacquiao said.

(Because of corruption, the government is losing a lot of money. Revenue is shrinking while the budget gets bigger. There are many appointed officials who do nothing but stealing.)

“Ginagawa nilang hanapbuhay ang pagseserbisyo sa taongbayan. Ang mahalaga ay magkaroon ng righteousness at justice dahil dito nakasalalay ang foundation para sa tunay na development,” he stressed.

(They make a living out of serving the people. The important thing is to have righteousness and justice because this is the foundation for real development.) — Jamil Santos/RSJ, GMA News