MANILA Mayor Isko Moreno welcomed the latest presidential survey by the RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD) that showed the Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer as the top choice to become president in the 2022 elections.

The 47-year-old local chief executive, however, reiterated he wants to stay focused and committed in helping and serving the people especially in this time of pandemic.

“Salamat naman pero malayo pa. Tao muna ang pagtutuunan ko ng atensyon. Gusto ko munang makinig sa tao sa ibat-ibang bahagi ng Pilipinas. At the same time mairaos natin ‘yung tao, maitawid natin ‘yung tao. Kasi hirap ang mga tao ngayon,” Moreno told reporters.

Moreno explained that what the country needs right now as we continue to grapple with the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is to have a leader who has a heart and knows what the people needs in order to survive day-to-day.

“Sinabi ko na sa inyo. Oh ngayon nakita nyo ‘yung sinabi ko sa tax cuts? Tax cuts sa langis, tax cut sa kuryente. Kita mo ‘yung langis ngayon … sabi ko sa inyo eh. Kaya kailangan ang leader may puso more than anything else eh. Di lang toits (points to his head), kailangan may toits din (points to his heart),” Moreno said.

Based on the RPMD survey, Moreno got 25.39 percent in the entire Philippines and dominated the polling in two geographic areas : National Capital Region (NCR) at 30.53 percent and the Visayas at 24.63 percent.

The RPMD conducted its nationwide survey from October 17-26, 2021 and had a total of 10,000 respondents who were interviewed based on the question: Who would you vote for President if the election will be held today?

The list of presidential aspirants was based on those who filed their certificates of candidacies (COC) from October 1-8 and considered to be “serious” candidates insofar as track record, political parties and capacity to launch a presidential campaign is concerned.

Moreno is seeking the highest position of the land with Doc Willie Ong as his vice presidential candidate. They are running on a Bilis Kilos 10-Point Program of Governance that seeks to protect life, promote livelihood and create jobs.

Meanwhile, parents and guardians who have family members aged 12 to 17 that are bedridden, wheelchair-bound or physically incapable of going to the vaccination sites, were called upon by Moreno to already begin registering for home vaccination.

Moreno said that just like what was done in the case of adults, the said youngsters will be administered their first doses within the confines of their homes with Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna herself leading the vaccinating team.

The mayor said that way before the pandemic, Lacuna, a doctor whom he assigned to be on top of the city government’s mass vaccination program, would drive her motorcycle and visit the homes of her patients to give free medical services.

“Kung dati binakunahan natin ang mga lolo’t lola na bedridden sa bahay, ‘wag kayo mag-atubili, mahihiya o maiilang. Please inform us and we will go to your place. This is a first in the country at si Vice Mayor Honey pa mismo nagbabakuna,” said Moreno.