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If you become the 17th president of the Philippines, how soon would Filipinos feel the impact of your leadership?

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Former Philippine senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Son of former 10th president of the Philippines Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. also known as Apo Lakay.

"Kailangan po nating ipagpatuloy ang sinimulan ni Pangulong Duterte na Build, Build, Build program sa imprastraktura. Pinag-uusapan nga namin kanina kung papaano ang gagawin para matuloy na 'yung tulay na manggagaling sa Iloilo hanggang Guimaras hanggang sa Negros. Para mabuksan na natin at dumami ang economic activity dito (We need to continue the Build, Build, Build program for infrastructure started by President [Rodrigo] Duterte. We are already discussing what must be done to pursue and continue the project which will start in Iloilo that will stretch to Guimaras and Negros so that we can open it and spur economic activity here)," Marcos told the massive crowd that trooped to the UniTeam's rally at the Tamasak Arena, Barotac Nuevo on Thursday, February 24.

First proposed in 2017, the bridge will be the longest in Western Visayas, and one of the longest bridges in the country, which will span 32 kilometers and will be divided into two components — the 13-kilometer Panay-Guimaras link, and the Guimaras-Negros link that spans 19.47 kilometers.

Marcos vowed to pursue the proposed bridge to open up the economy, in connection with his consultations with the Ilonggos on how to help the sugar industry.

Initially, the Department of Public Works and Highways confirmed that engineering services for the bridge will take place, with financial support from the South Korean government, particularly the Export-Import Bank of Korea.

Marcos also emphasized his commitment to pursue the incumbent government's Build, Build, Build infrastructure program, which he said will not only hasten the economy but will also produce jobs.

Marcos said his desire to pursue the ambitious project was also aligned with his call for unity, that his vision is profoundly rooted on the idea that every Filipino is needed for the country to achieve its goal.

"Siguro naman kahit hindi tayo nagkakasundo sa pulitika, magkakasundo tayo sa adhikain na pagandahin ang Pilipinas. Doon tayo magsimula. Gawin natin itong tuntungan para maabot ang ating nagkakaisang pangarap na iahon ang bayan mula sa pagkakalugmok nito. Tanging ang pagkakaisa lamang ang ating maaaring asahan (Even if we don't agree politically, maybe we can agree with the goal of improving the Philippines. Let's start from there. Let's take this as a stepping stone to reach our common dream of lifting the country. We can only lean on our unity)," Marcos expressed.

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If you become the 17th president of the Philippines, how soon would Filipinos feel the impact of your leadership?

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Vice President Leni Robredo said that, if she wins the presidency, she would push for an executive order on full disclosure during the first days of her office.

“Ang lahat na government offices and instrumentalities, ire-require po natin to make public, lahat na public transactions.” she said. (We will require all government offices and instrumentalities to make public all their public transactions.)

Robredo, however, acknowledge this might not be enough but it would be an important step to let the public know that she is serious about fixing the government.

The Vice President also said she would appoint public servants who have good track records and expertise.

Robredo also said she would prioritize providing jobs, quality education, and improving basic health services.

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Moreno did not give time frames for his agenda either, but said he would focus on improving the livelihood of Filipinos.

“Maitawid lang namin kayo, itatawid lang namin kayo. Ang hirap ng buhay. Tataas ang gasolina, tataas ang bilihin. ‘Yun bang maramdaman ninyong may gobyerno kayong maasahan, masasandalan. ‘Yun po ang pangarap ko sa inyo. Makatawid tayo, makaraos tayo sa pandemyang ito. Then, there will be certainty and predictability in our policy, sa ating pamamahala,” he said.

(The goal is to improve your lot in life, to just pull you out of where you are now. Life is difficult. The prices of oil and commodities are increasing. I will make you feel that there’s a government that you can depend on, you can lean on. That’s my dream for you. We can get through this pandemic. Then, there will be certainty and predictability in our policy, our governance.)

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Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson did not give a timeline for what he would accomplish during his first days in office. He said that he didn’t believe in deadlines. But there’s one thing he would want to focus on: government cleansing.

“I will sign a waiver of my rights of the Bank Secrecy Act that will set the tone of my presidency. In the first 100 days, I will do an internal cleansing of the net corrupt and the discipline of the employees. Tuloy-tuloy po ‘yan sa simula ng first 100 days (This will be continuously done during the start of my first 100 days). And, at the end of term, when the Filipino looks back, sasabihin n’ya (they would say), I’m better off [since] this administration started,” he said.

Lacson was part of the Senate blue ribbon committee that conducted investigation into the government’s anomalous multi-billion pandemic contracts with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation.

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If you become the 17th president of the Philippines, how soon would Filipinos feel the impact of your leadership?

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Ernesto Abella, who also served as a spokesperson of President Rodrigo Duterte before he was appointed to the Department of Foreign Affairs, said he would encourage civil society groups to take part in his governance. He said that he could do this in three to six months.

“Unang-una, ang mag-participate sa local government dahil may puwang po sa Local Government Code na 25% dapat ng sumasali sa pamamahala ay galing po sa civil society. So gusto po natin hikayatin sila, to look after local enforcement, to look after trades,” Abella said.

(First, I will encourage civil society to participate in governance because Local Government Code mandates that 25% of those who participate in governance should come from them. We want to encourage them, to look after local enforcement, to look after trades.)

Civil society comprises organizations that are not associated with government, like schools and universities, advocacy groups, professional associations, churches, and cultural institutions.

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Faisal Mangondato said he would change the leadership of agencies and appoint qualified individuals for the positions.

“Katulad sa eroplano, lumilipad maski wala ang piloto. Ang ibig sabihin, ang hahawak ng ating gobyerno ay ‘yung mga propesyonal na may civil service. Sila ang mga undersecretaries na may security of tenures. May eksperiyensiya na nanungkulan sila sa mga naunang mga administration hanggang sa kasalukuyang administration,” he said.

(Just like an airplane, our government can fly without a pilot. This means, those who will lead are the professionals who have civil service [eligibility]. They are the undersecretaries who have security of tenures. They have experience serving past and administrations.)

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Physician Jose Montemayor Jr. said he would focus on pandemic response, specifically on economic recovery. He said Filipinos would feel the economic recovery in one year under him.

“[On] unemployment, we will plan to reduce that from 9 million to 3.4 million, pre-pandemic levels. [In terms of] job creation, we will be dynamic with that para sa ating manggagawa (for our laborers). Tunay at tapat sa mga manggagawa, ‘yan po ay ibaba natin from 3.9 to 2.4 million nal ang (True and faithful to our laborers, we will lessen unemployed Filipinos from 3.9 million to 2.4 million). So that will be felt within one year,” Montemayor said.

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Norberto Gonzales, who also served as defense secretary and national security adviser during the Arroyo administration, said he would push for charter change during his first 100 days in his office.

“Titingnan natin kung kailangan tayong maging parliamentary system. ‘Yun pong ina-advocate ng iba na federal, hindi po ako pabor diyan, pero puwede ring pag-usapan. (Let’s see if we can shift to a parliamentary system. I’m not in favor federalism, like others are advocating, but we can talk about it.) Perhaps we could convert our regions into autonomous ones,” he said.

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Boxing champ-turned-senator Manny Pacquiao said he planned to put up a mega prison in his first three months in office.

“Dahil gusto ko makita sa kulungan ang mga kawatan d’yan sa gobyerno (Because I want to see corrupt government officials in jail),” Pacquiao said. He added he would order the audit of government employees from local government governments up to national offices.

The senator said he would provide livelihood to Filipinos by helping micro, small, and medium enterprises. “Kapital para makapag-start sila ng business at makapagbigay ng trabaho sa ating mga kababayan dahil trabaho po – income, kita – ang kailangan ng mga kababayan natin,” he added.

(I will give startup capital for businesses so they could provide jobs to our countrymen because jobs and income are what they need.)

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Labor leader Leody de Guzman said that, if elected, he would start his agenda of labor first policy as he planned to end contractualization.

“Pasensiya na ‘yung mga malalaking negosytante, hindi ito para inyo. Una, sa labor first policy – ititigil ko ‘yung contractualization. Ipasasara ko ang lahat ng mga manpower agency,” he said.

(I’m sorry for the big businesses, but this is not for you. First is the labor first policy – I will put an end to contractualization. I will close all the manpower agencies.)

De Guzman also said he would increase the minimum wage to P750. Aside from this, he would fund local farmers, and even triple the budget, so that they would be encouraged to produce more. Just like Lacson, De Guzman did not give timelines for these, but said these would be his priorities during his first days in office.