AKSYON Demokratiko standard bearer Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso on Thursday maintained he will continue with his “Listening Tour” and will never get tired of talking to the people while always observing the minimum health protocols laid down by the government task force dealing with the COVID-19.

“Basta ako bababa sa gitna ng komunidad nila, sa gitna ng bukirin, sa gitna ng palaisdaan, sa población, sa siyudad, sa barangay and so on and so forth. Ang gusto ko mas-close sa taong bayan, gusto ko makinig sa taong bayan, makipag-usap sa taong bayan,” the 47-year-old presidential aspirant said in an ambush interview in Malabon City.

“I will touch everyone. Hindi naman ako takot, because at the end of the day, these are the same people that we are going to govern. Bakit ka mandidiri sa kanila?” said Moreno, presidential bet of Aksyon Demokratiko.

Moreno however stressed that minimum basic protocols are being observed in all Aksyon Demokratiko activities, particularly the wearing of face masks.

When mingling with the crowd, Moreno dutifully wears a face mask, removing it only when he has to talk on the stage – which is a distance away from the crowd – for people to hear him better, and putting it back when he is finished.

“Ang tao naman, there should be a certain discipline na tinutupad o ginagawa tayo. Sana follow basic health protocol, makakaraos din tayo. It’s a very challenging campaign and we really have to abide on some level of rules that are being implemented. But due diligence is being observed,” Moreno explained.

Recently, the Commission on Elections set down the rules to be followed during the campaign period.

Among those forbidden include crowding around the candidate; actions that involve physical contact like handshakes, hugs, kisses and going arm-in-arm; and taking selfies, photographs “and other similar activities that require close proximity between the candidate and their companions in public.”

However, the rules will only apply during the official campaign period that begins on Feb. 8 for national candidates, and on March 25 for local candidates.

With this, Moreno said he and his running mate, Dr. Willie Ong, and the Akson Demokratiko senatorial slate, Dr. Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc and Jopet Sison, will continue to reach as many places as they can, and reach as many people as they can to talk and listen to them “while there is still time.”

“Focused ako na kausapin ang tao, marinig ang tao, makita ang tao, malaman ko yung sitwasyon nila doon sa partikular na lugar kung saan man sila nakatira,” he said.

“It would be better for our people to have this kind of activities kasi mas maririnig nila yung intensyon ng mga kandidato, at mas maririnig ng kandidato yung hinaing ng tao. Yun ang gusto kong magawa. At sa pakikinig sa kanila, marami akong natututunan,” said Moreno.

In fact, Moreno said his stand on a 50 percent cut on the excise taxes of petroleum products and electricity to ease the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic was the result of his initial dialogues with ordinary people last October.

“We will do and continue doing that (Listening Tour). Tedious, mahirap, but we have to do it because ‘yun naman ang pinangako ko nung mag-file ako ng candidacy. Doc Willie and I, we said iikot kami, kakausapin namin ang tao,” he said.

Be that as it may, Moreno said every Filipino, regardless of who they support, must unite in combatting COVID-19, the least of which is to wear face masks in public places and getting vaccinated.

“Basta mag-mask, mag-mask, mag-mask. It is scientifically proven. And get vaccinated…magbakuna, magbakuna, magbakuna,” Moreno said.

In this regard, he praised President Rodrigo Duterte for initiating the highly successful three-day National Vaccination Drive which enlisted the services of vaccinators from cities like Manila that have already exceeded the target of 70 percent of its population.

“Tulad niyan, matagumpay yung national vaccination program. We made history in the number of vaccinated people per population. So ibig sabihin, pag nagkaka-isa talaga na maproteksyonan ang tao, ang resulta bumaba talaga (number of infected persons),” said Moreno.