POE VOWS TO ENSURE PEOPLE'S MONEY WILL WORK FOR THEM

BATANGAS--Presidential race frontrunner Sen. Grace Poe will make sure that the country's resources will be used for the benefit of the people and not pocketed by corrupt officials.

Speaking to multi-sectoral groups in Rosario, Batangas, Poe said it was not in her character to take advantage of the people's mandate.

"Dahil sa turo ng aking mga magulang, pagpapalaki nila sa akin, at dahil sa alaala ng aking ama, hindi ko kayo nanakawan at sisiguraduhin ko na ang yaman ng bayan ay mapupunta sa inyo at hindi sa bulsa ng iilan. Iyan ang aking pangako," Poe said.

The lone independent presidential contender campaigned with the senatorial candidates of Partido Galing at Puso in Batangas Tuesday. Poe was welcomed by Batangas Rep. and gubernatorial candidate Mark Llandro Mendoza, who introduced her as "the country's next president."

Poe said the country needs a leader who is worthy of the people's trust and sensitive to the people's needs, citing her late father Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ), who ran but lost in the 2004 presidential elections that was marred by massive cheating.

FPJ, she said, has been helping people even before he ran for public office. Without fanfare he often extended assistance to poor parents so they could send their children to school.

"Iyan ang kailangan natin. Isang pangulo na nakakaramdam, isang pangulo na tapat at hindi kayo nanakawan, at isang pangulo na mabilis magbibigay ng oportunidad sa inyo," Poe said.

The senator said an effective leader is one who uplifts the lives of people by creating jobs and giving them livelihood opportunities.

"Kung mabilis kumilos ang pangulo, kahit kayo sa panahon ninyo ngayon, mararamdaman ninyo ang pag-angat ng buhay." Poe said.

Tapping the tourism potential of provinces like Batangas and empowering the informal sector are among Poe's advocacies to curb poverty incidence nationwide.

Poe also vowed to make education more accessible and affordable through scholarship grants and vouchers, saying quality education is the poor's ticket out of poverty.

"Ang ating bansa ay nakasalalay sa galing ng ating mga kababayan. Pero kung hindi sila lalaking matalino dahil nagugutom sila, kung hindi sila lalaking matalino dahil hindi sila nakapagtapos, anong klaseng laban naman meron sila?" she said.