Duterte holds mini-dialogue with QC tricycle drivers

Two days before the second presidential debate, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte campaigns in Novaliches, one of Quezon City’s biggest districts.

He talks to tricycle drivers and promises to help fund small-scale industries.

Pia Ranada reports.

Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte visits Novaliches, one of Quezon City’s biggest districts with 1.15 million registered voters.

Here, Duterte and running mate Alan Peter Cayetano hold a dialogue with tricycle drivers.

The drivers say their main concerns are the high cost of goods, health care, and crime.

Duterte makes one point clear in his speech: his governance style puts the needs of the people first.

RODRIGO DUTERTE, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Is this person’s child in school? Then I will think about education. If this person has tuberculosis, will he be able to go to a hospital? I will think again. That’s how I am. I don’t think first of putting a bridge. People first, because that is who you are serving. People first, not the contractor, not the bridge.

Part of his economic platform is to provide a P1-billion fund per region for small to medium enterprises.

RODRIGO DUTERTE, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I will fund, with P1 billion, small-scale industries. Your kids who graduate and don’t have a job, they can form a cooperative and I will lend them money. But they should make that money grow. If it’s viable, I will fund it. But the money is not for consumption, it’s for business.

The crowd cheers as Duterte blind-items officials in the administration who dangle poverty programs as bait for votes.

RODRIGO DUTERTE, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The tell people, ‘If you don’t vote for me, the 4Ps will go away. Shit. Why will you scare them? Is that your money? That’s how millionaires talk, they think the people’s money is theirs then they will spin the story, ‘If you don’t vote us back into power, no more 4Ps.’ Son of a, is that your money?

Duterte is now in second place in recent voter preference surveys after Grace Poe.

His supporters know they need to convince others to vote for Duterte.

ELMA, NOVALICHES RESIDENT: If the system is always the same, we need a change. It’s so tiring to have the same thing over and over again. Why don’t we try something different?

LEO VARGAS, NOVALICHES RESIDENT: I’ve talked to a lot of people, like taxi drivers, my workmates, they say they are for Duterte because people need Duterte because they need stricter governance to enforce discipline among the people.

The second presidential debate will be held in Cebu City this Sunday, but given the limited airtime, Duterte knows he will need to convey his message to as many people as possible.