BALANGA City, Bataan — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso on Wednesday vowed to connect the provinces of Bataan, Cavite and Batangas as he continues the Build, Build, Build program of the current administration.

“We will continue the Build, Build, Build. But in our case, habang tinuloy yung mga sinimulan na, tayo naman, mag-build, build, build tayo: build more schools, build more hospitals, build more industry, build more jobs and build the bridge from Bataan to Corregidor, to Batangas and Cavite,” said the Aksyon Demokratiko presidential candidate.

Moreno made the statement before local officials and employees of the Bataan provincial capitol here in Balanga City.

Governor Albert Garcia personally welcomed Mayor Isko who came with his vice presidential candidate Dr. Willie Ong and the three senatorial bets of Aksyon Demokratiko: Dr. Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc and Jopet Sison.

The Aksyon Demokratiko candidates were in Bataan to meet with farmers and fisherfolks as part of their “Listening Tour” to ascertain the real state of the people in the rural areas of the country.

Moreno said linking Bataan to Cavite and Batangas would pave for faster transport and easier exchange of goods between the three provinces.

“Yung pinapangarap ninyo na magdugtong ang dalawang dulo ng Batangas, Cavite, Bataan, hindi na siya imposible,” said the Manila mayor.

Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge being built on Manila Bay. It will reduce the travel time from Bataan to Cavite from five hours to 40 minutes.

The project is being developed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with an estimated investment of P175.7 Billion. It is a priority project under the government’s Build, Build, Build (BBB) program that aims to boost the country’s economic growth through increased investments in public infrastructure.

Moreno recounted his recent visit to Cebu province where he saw the 8.9-kilometer Cebu-Cordova Bridge which connects Mactan Island to Mainland Cebu.

“Pwede pala, kaya pala. Kaya sa inyo, hindi na kayo mata- trapik sa Metro Manila kung pupunta kayo sa Batangas, pupunta kayo ng Cavite, kahit dito na lang kayo sa Mariveles road, dire-dire-direstso lang kayo,” said Moreno.

The 47-year-old presidential candidate said construction of the linkage may be costly – estimated at about P175 billion – but the benefits it will give to the people is beyond value.

“Mura lang yon. Kasi walang halagang maitutumbas ang kagaangang maibibigay sa bawat tao ng mga bagay na ginagawa ng gobyerno. Kaya kahit gaano kamahal sa mata natin, sa kwentada natin, mura yan sa kapakinabangn ng tao. Tao muna ang mauna sa pamahalaan ko,” Moreno said.

Beside the Bataan-Cavite-Batangas link, Moreno has plans to build bridges across major islands of the Philippine archipelago which will not just facilitate the exchange of goods and services, but will also serve as tourism circuits and tourism highways as spelled out under the Bilis Kilos 10-Point Agenda for Governance under an Isko Moreno presidency.

“We will also continue to support the economic zone to provide more jobs and industry,” Moreno told the people of Bataan.

To ease the plight of farmers and fisherfolk, as well as protect businesses and jobs, Moreno said he would also cut taxes of oil and electricity by 50 percent.

While this may result to a decrease in government revenues by about P130 billion, he said the same amount would immediately benefit the people in terms of savings – savings that would subsequently return to government as people spend more due to their stronger purchasing power.

“Nagparaya ang gobyerno at inuna ang tao. Ganon ang ginawa namin sa Maynila.Hindi kami yumaman pero gumaan ang pamumuhay ng tao sa loob ng pandemya sa loob ng dalawang taon. Kung nagawa sa Maynila, kayang gawin sa buong bansa,” said Moreno.

Garcia thanked Moreno for visiting the province, and for his invaluable efforts to help Bataan in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Siya po ang tumulong sa atin na magset-up yung ating cold chain facility dito sa Kapitolyo. Kaya naman outside of Metro Manila, inuna naman ang Bataan sa supply ng bakuna, at kaya outside of NCR, nangunguna ang Bataan sa pagbabakuna sa mga kababayan. Tinulungan din po tayo ni Mayor Isko na makakuha ng mga gamot laban sa COVID-19,” said Garcia.