Bakit Ikaw: The Presidential Job Interview with Sen. Manny Pacquiao

Presidential aspirant Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao on Saturday, January 29, gave his take on how to solve some of the issue the country is facing today.

In his interview with DZRH's Bakit Ikaw: The Presidential Job Interview, Pacquiao said that he aims to raise the minimum wage nationwide of both the public and private sectors, hasten corruption cases by forming a people court, create a peace panel to solve the dispute on the West Philippine Sea, and many more.

Here are some of the highlights of Sen. Pacquiao's Bakit Ikaw: The Presidential Job Interview:

P50k minimum wage for health workers
If elected president, Sen. Pacquiao said that he will increase the minimum wage of nurses both on the public and private sector to P50,000.

"Kasama po 'yan sa ating '22 rounds' priority agenda, 'yung pagtaas ng sahod sa private and public. Ang tinitignan ko rito, P50,000 minimum na sahod at hindi lamang po sa public kung hindi private po," the senator said, "At gagawin natin [diyan] ay across the board 'yung salary standardization, hindi lang dito Maynila mataas kung hindi pati sa probinsya," he added.

(It is part of our '22 rounds' priority agenda, the increase in salary for private and public. In my perspective, P50,000 is the minimum wage and not just for the public but private too. What we will do is to have an across-the-board salary standardization, not just in Manila but for other provinces.)

50 percent increase on minimum wage of other work forces
The presidential aspirant also voiced his desire to double the minimum wage of other workers while soothing possible alarm from employers as he noted that the government will make the necessary adjustment regarding the plan.

"'Yung manggagawa natin dapat taasan talaga, kung pwede lang doblehin 'yung minimum wage nila or itaas ng 50% ang minimum wage ng ating bansa," said Pacquiao, "Ang gobyerno ang maga-adjust, hindi ang tao."

(For workers it should really be increased. If it is possible let's double the minimum wage or raise it by 50% in the country. The government will adjust, not the people.)

Hasten corruption cases by forming People's Court
Sen. Pacquiao said that he aims to solve the slow justice system on corruption by forming a "People's Court". He added that through this cases on corruption can be resolve in at least three months.

"Ang gagawin po natin ay magcre-create po tayo ng isang…tatawagin natin itong People's Court. Magcre-create po tayo ng special court na lahat ng isyu ng korapsyon din pupunta," said Pacquiao.

(What we will do, is we will create what we call a People's Court. We will create a special court where all issues of corruption will go.)

The senator also stressed that he is prepared to arrest Cabinet members and even family relatives if they are found to be involved in corruption.

Appointing cabinet members: No to family members; Yes to dedicated, corrupt-free officials
Being an athlete himself, presidential aspirant Manny Pacquiao said he has high standards for appointing his very own Cabinet members. According to Pacquiao, he will only appoint dedicated, corrupt-free, and honest officials.

Pacquiao also clarified that he does not plan to appoint any family members to the said post.

Peace Panel to resolve tensions on the West Philippine Sea
To solve the on-going tension on the West Philippine Sea, Pacquiao said that he plans to create a 'peace panel' that will bridge communication between the Philippines and China. Pacquiao also stressed that his administration will stand with the ruling of the 2016 arbitration tribunal.

"Unag-una, panindigan natin iyon [2016 arbitration tribunal ruling]. Ipaglaban natin yung pinaghawakan na panalo tayo," Pacquiao said, "Bubuo po tayo ng peace panel na siyang makikipagcommunicate sa lahat ng involved dito sa West Philippine Sea para magkaroon…hindi lang isang pag-uusap, madaming pag uusap."

(First of all, we should stand by it [2016 arbitration tribunal ruling]. Let's fight for our win. We will make a peace panel that will communicate to all those involved in the WPS. Not just one talk, but lots of peace talks.)

Regulate oil prices
With country experiencing rising oil prices, Senator Pacquiao said that under his leadership he aims to regulate petroleum to ease mounting oil prices. Explaining further, he said that although the government cannot control the world market's oil prices, local effects can still be minimized.

"Ire-regulate natin ulit," Pacquiao said, "Pagdating sa oil price, 'yung world market natin hindi natin makokontrol 'yan. Pero sa ating bansa, mamiminimize natin 'yung presyo ng oil natin, 'yung langis natin."

(We will regulate it again. When it comes to oil prices, we cannot control the world market. But in the country, we can minimize the price of oil.)

"Kailangan lang kontrol ng ating gobyerno, kasi ngayon walang control ang ating gobyerno."

(All if needed is the control of the government because now, the government has no control.)

More trains, skyways to solve traffic woes
Building more train lines and skyways are the way to go to solve the country's traffic dilemma, said Sen. Pacquiao. He added that upgrading public transportation will encourage citizens to opt using public transits which will then reduce the number of private vehicles on the road.

"Kailangan natin ng additional skyways at MRT (metro rail transit). Paramihin pa natin 'yung MRT natin para 'yung mga tao hindi na mag-iisip na gumamit ng sasakyan, mas mabilis sa MRT," said Pacquiao.

He also noted that the on-going construction of the subway system in Metro Manila is not enough to accommodate the large volume of daily passengers, hence the need for more transportation infrastructures.

Presidential aspirant Manny Pacquiao also revealed on Saturday that he still wants to unite PDP-Laban, the ruling party of the Philippines, which split into two-factions back in 2021.

"Sinisikap ko na mabuo ang PDP, magkaroon ng unity ang PDP dahil ang pinagmulan ng PDP ay pakikipaglaban sa ating mga paghihirap ng mga kababayan," said Pacquiao.

(I am trying to unite the PDP, to have unity inside the PDP, because the party came from the struggle against poverty of our countrymen.)

The two divided factions are led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and Senator Aquilino Pimentel III.

Next to showcase their plans and platforms on DZRH's Bakit Ikaw: The Presidential Job Interview is former secretary of National Defense of Philippines Norberto Gonzales tomorrow, February 1, 4PM to 6:30PM.

And on Tuesday, February 2, Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo will also shed light on her take on how the country will move forward under her leadership.

The Bakit Ikaw: The Presidential Job Interview is aired on all DZRH digital, Radyo Natin website, and other traditional media platforms. (DZRH)