If elections were held today in Cavite, presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is the landslide winner after scoring 62 percent in a recent internal survey across the province.
On his official Facebook page, Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla disclosed that the internal survey was conducted on 1,600 respondents throughout the province on December 1 to 5.
“Surveys are a snapshot in time. If the election was held today? BBM will win in Cavite by a landslide,” Remulla said.
Sen. Ping Lacson, a Cavite native, was a far second in the survey with 16 percent, while Vice President Leni Robredo fell to third with nine percent. Isko Moreno was at six percent and Sen. Manny Pacquaio, four percent.
“I believe (Marcos) will win the presidency in 2022. It’s his time. It’s his destiny,” Remulla stressed.
According to the latest records of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in 2019, Cavite is the second most vote-rich province in the country.
Cavite has more than two million voters, second only to Cebu with the largest number of voters with more than three million voters.
Meanwhile, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) is known as the most vote-rich region in the country with more than eight million voters or 14 percent of the total voter population.
Bongbong and his running mate, Davao Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, continue to lead all reputable surveys in the country.
Meanwhile, convinced that it is one of the best solutions to address perennial traffic jams in Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares especially along EDSA, the BBM-Sara UniTeam has included in its mass transportation blueprint the plan to modernize the Pasig River Ferry System once elected into office in the coming May 9 elections.
The Partido Federal ng Pilipinas standard bearer said he and Duterte will immediately prioritize and implement the modernization of ferry transportation system along the Pasig River which connects Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay, once they assumed office.
Marcos added that unlike in previous administrations, they are looking at the possibility of the government managing the program rather than allowing the private sector to run and profit from it.
“We know that when a private company is in control, they are sure to make money somehow. But when the government manages it, it should no longer be profitable,” he noted.
“Because just solving the traffic problem is a big help to our countrymen and will also show that the government is honest and truly serves the people,” he said.
Marcos stressed that aside from easing traffic, utilizing the Pasig River Ferry System could also play a big role in spurring economic activities and in ushering in progress in the country.
He cited a February 2018 study by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which showed that the country is losing P3.5-B daily in potential income and productivity because of daily traffic jams in Metro Manila.
“It is clear from the JICA study that P3.5-B per day is lost in the country due to heavy traffic. That is why it is important that we solve this, and the modern and efficient Pasig River Ferry System will help a lot to solve the traffic problem and it will even result in more vibrant trade and a prosperous economy,” Marcos explained.
He then vowed that the UniTeam will fully support the immediate approval of the proposed Pasig River Ferry Convergence Program which is being pushed by the incumbent Duterte administration.
Marcos noted that if the ferry system can be strengthened, it will surely be a great convenience, not only to commuters and motorists, but also in easing down pollution levels in Metro Manila thus, helping the environment.
Their team plans to construct new and disaster-resilient ferry stations, improve on existing ones, and launch safe, sleek, and
state-of-the-art ferries to encourage commuters in patronizing them.
For the past three decades, three private companies have managed the ferry system. Currently, there are 11 ferry stations that are placed in various areas along the length of the river from Pasig to Intramuros in Manila.
UniTeam added that a large budget may be needed for this project but fixing the traffic problem will surely yield a handsome return of investments for the economy.
“That is my program with Inday Sara. When the traffic in Metro Manila is eased, our economy will surely ease as well,” Marcos added.
In the past, merchant boats passed through the Pasig River that boosted barter trades between the Filipinos, Chinese and other foreigners.