PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. and former Vice President Leni Robredo, who ran against each other in the 2022 presidential and 2016 vice presidential elections, briefly met yesterday at the inauguration of the Sorsogon Sports Arena (SSA) in Sorsogon.
During the event, the President reiterated his call for support and unity, regardless of personal differences and beliefs, to push the country to progress and uplift the lives of Filipinos.
The two leaders shook hands, smiled, and greeted each other before Marcos proceeded to the program proper at the sports arena.
Robredo left after welcoming Marcos. She had an engagement in Naga City where she is running for mayor.
Senate President Francis said he invited Robredo to welcome Marcos on behalf of the Bicol region.
Escudero was governor of Sorsogon before he returned to the Senate in 2022 while Robredo is from Naga City.
Also were present during the brief meeting were former senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, Deputy speaker Camille Villar, and Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez
Escudero said Robredo, accompanied by Aquino, attended the “Kasanggayahan” festival along with other leaders he invited, like former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and re-electionist senator Lito Lapid.
Sotto and Lapid have left when Marcos arrived.
“It is only fitting that it is during the Kasanggayahan, or the Festival of Festivals, that we’re able to host the two leading presidential candidates in the 2022 elections. We are grateful for their presence in this important occasion for Sorsogon,” Escudero said.
He said the event is more meaningful because while he, Marcos, and Robredo ran against each other in 2016, they got together for the occasion after all the years.
Last September, Robredo also met with Vice President Sara Duterte who visited her in her house in Naga City during the Peñafrancia Festival.
Robredo spokesperson, Barry Gutierrez, said the former Vice President “was informed of the visit only minutes before when she was told that VP Sara was already on the way.”
The Office of the Vice President said Duterte was invited to the festival by a friend who also arranged a “casual meeting” with Robredo.
Duterte, who was Marcos’ running mate in 2022, quit the Marcos Cabinet in June and has since been criticizing the administration.
ONE GOAL
The President, in his speech, again called for unity regardless of personal differences and beliefs to attain effective governance.
‘’Maaaring may pagkakaiba tayo sa paniniwala at sa opinyon, ngunit alam ko na tayo ay pinagbubuklod ng iisang hangarin – na maiangat ang antas ng pamumuhay ng bawat isang Pilipino. (We may have opposing beliefs and opinions but I know that we are one in our goal to improve the lives of every Filipino),” he said.
He added that he hopes for the support of Filipinos because he believes that if everyone helped, it would be easier to reach the goal of developing the country and uplifting of the lives of Filipinos.
The President said projects in Sorsogon are among the best examples of what having unified goals can do for the Philippines. He cited as example the one-stop shop “Sorsogon National Government Center,” the “Sorsogon Sports Arena,” Sampaloc Tenement, Sorsogon’s Provincial Sanitarium Facilities, and the road to Bacon Airport.
Marcos said he was pleased to see the completion of these projects, but more will be accomplished by working together, like vaccinating more children, further improving security and peace, and reducing poverty.
SERVICES
The President said the one-stop-shop government center provided the public with easy access to government services and investment opportunities. It supports the administration’s goal of providing more efficient and faster public service and increasing investments in the country.
The tenement project, he said, is a joint program of the local and national governments, aimed at providing beneficiaries with safe and secured shelters.
The P1.2-billion sports arena, he said, can accommodate 12,000 people and serve as national training camp for Filipino athletes or venue for conferences, summits, concerts, and competitions.
The 37,794.01-square meter, four-story sports facility was patterned after the colosseum in Rome and is part of the 7.1-hectare Sorsogon Sports Complex that also houses the Department of Education (DepEd) Sorsogon building and its gymnasium.
It has 139 rooms, including 39 dorm-type rooms with 560-bed capacity that can accommodate training athletes. It also has two infirmaries, an eight-lane rubberized track and field area, and a huge space for other sporting events.
It was originally intended to be used for the Palarong Pambansa in 2021 but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed its completion.
Escudero said Sorsogon is planning to host the Palarong Pambansa in 2027 and use the sports arena as venue.
