VICO SOTTO VOWS TO DELIVER TRUE CHANGE

PASIG City Mayor Victor Maria Regis “Vico” Sotto vowed to establish equality in the delivery of primary services, describing it the hallmark of his “tunay na pagbabago” or true change that he wanted to attain.

At the campaign kickoff speech Friday before a huge crowd in the Pasig Mega Market, Sotto presented his complete team “Giting ng Pasig”. He said the true change he is promising could be inherited by the future generation.

“Ano ba ‘yung pagbabago na gusto natin makamtan? Kasi pwede pong magkaroon ng pagbabago na pinalitan lang natin ‘yung pangalan ng alkalde at pinalitan lang ‘yung mukha pero ‘yung sistema ganoon pa rin. Ayaw natin iyun (What is the change we want to achieve? It is not changing simply the name of the mayor and his face, but what I’m referring to is the overhaul of the system. We don’t want to be doing the same thing),” he said.

He explained that every Pasig constituent has the right to equal treatment as everyone pays taxes for the betterment of the government.

The mayor also vowed to eradicate the “palakasan” or “padrino” (whom you know) system, which he considers an impediment to development.

He said those who are not in favor of him are afraid of not receiving help, including scholarships, and of being excluded in the traditional yearly Christmas gift giving.

“Pero kahit hindi ka kaibigan o kaalyado? Kahit na kaaway mo pa ang meyor mayroon ka pa ring pamaskong handog. Pantay-pantay ang tingin natin sa bawat isang Pasigueño. Bilang meyor wala po akong karapatang mamili (But even if you are not a friend or an ally? Even if the mayor is your enemy, you still have a Christmas present. We treat every Pasigueño equally. As mayor, I have no right to be selective),” he said.

Sotto admitted that his governance is not yet perfect. He said that the “deep and true change” is not attained easily, but through slow and steady progress.

“Bagkus ang tunay na ipinaglalaban natin at patuloy nating ipinaglalaban pagbabagong tunay ay hindi po madali, hindi mabilis. Ang tunay na pagbabago na hinahangad natin para sa ating lungsod ay ang pagbabago na malalim. At higit sa lahat ang tunay na pagbabago na pwede nating ipamana sa mga tunay na Pasigueño (What we are fighting for and continue to fight for is neither easy nor fast to attain. The real change we are looking for in our city is the change that is profound. And above all, the real change that we can pass on to the real Pasigueños),” he said.