Ong: Ang goal ko lang humaba ang buhay ninyo

Internist and cardiologist Willie Ong on Sunday said his main goal in seeking the vice presidency is to help Filipinos live longer lives.

“Ang goal ko lang ay humaba ang buhay ninyo, ‘yun lang po,” the Aksyon Demokratiko bet said in his  closing statement at the Comelec's PiliPinas Debates 2022 Sunday.

“Kasi ngayon nakita natin, 2021, 800,000 Filipinos namatay. Heart disease, COVID, diabetes,” he added.

A Commission on Population and Development report showed that the first 11 months of 2021 saw more registered deaths nationwide at 768,504, higher than the 154,562 deaths in 2020.

Ong said he is unsure if there will be another crisis where he may be needed.

“Hindi ko masasabi magkakaroon pa ba ng pandemic surge, kakailanganin niyo ko. Magkakaroon ba ng nuclear war, kailangan ba natin tulungan ‘yung kalusugan at iba pa,” he added

He also joked that politics is “easier” than what he does as a doctor whenever he has to decide within 10 to 15 seconds on what to do during an operation.

“Wala po akong campaign funds, hindi ako naninira kahit kanino. Gagawin natin malinis at maayos sa abot ng aking makakaya,” he said.—LDF, GMA News