Fully acknowledging the huge contributions and sacrifices by the country’s frontline workers during the coronavirus pandemic, presidential candidate Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. is calling on the national government to declare March 15 as Frontliners Day.
The UniTeam standard-bearer said March 15 was the most appropriate day to honor and recognize the frontline workers since it was on that date in 2020 when the government first placed the entire country under the most stringent enhanced community quarantine.
As a result, chaos and confusion ensued but all the essential workers and frontline workers held the fort and performed their tasks despite the dangers posed by the coronavirus, Marcos said in a statement.
He added that in recognition of their heroism and sacrifices the government must initiate moves to declare March 15 as Frontliners Day.
The entire country and the government were caught off-guard during the first months of the pandemic, and it took some time before the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act was enacted.
The law somehow brought some stability which also paved the way for the government to provide all forms of financial and economic assistance to the people, especially the millions who were displaced from their jobs.
Throughout those trying times and until the present, frontliners like health and medical workers, law enforcers, barangay officials, employees of groceries, markets, banks, and delivery riders carried on their tasks, some of whom got sick and many also lost their lives.
Meanwhile, the Marcos-Sara tandem got lifted up from a lively crowd of political supporters during a rally at the town arena in Guiguinto, Bulacan Tuesday.
“It is obvious from the number of people who came here today what the pulse of the Bulacan electorate is,” said Vice Governor Willy Sy-Alvarado, a gubernatorial candidate, referring to the massive rally attended by Marcos and Duterte.
In his speech at the Guiguinto campaign rally, Sy-Alvarado introduced the former senator as “the next president of the Philippines” and “the captain of the ship.”
Marcos is the standard-bearer of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, while Duterte is the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats’ bet for the vice presidency.
Another local official who was stunned by the large and lively crowd was Guiguinto Mayor Ambrocio Cruz Jr.
Cruz, who is running for a seat in the House of Representatives, said the rally organizers informed him of the event just two days ago.
It is for this reason that he only expected a modest crowd for the rally. But when he finally saw the turnout of people, he “had goosebumps.”
The Guiguinto rally was the first of three UniTeam rallies scheduled Tuesday in Bulacan.
The other two were to be carried out at the Meycauayan College Annex, Barangay Malhacan in Meycauayan, and at the open space in Barangay Santa Clara, Sta. Maria town.
Filipino rap legend Andrew E. performed for the crowd in Guiguinto.
A key province in Luzon, Bulacan has an estimated two million registered voters.
Marcos won in Bulacan during the 2016 vice presidential race.