LUCENA, City — UNITEAM presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Wednesday started their two-province sortie in the Calabarzon region and commended youth leaders on their active involvement on various major issues besetting the country.
The BBM-Sara tandem barnstormed through three areas in Quezon and is scheduled to visit Batangas this Thursday.
Addressing the Green Army Youth Orientation Forum at Queen Margarette Hotel in Lucena City, Marcos and Duterte lauded the partnership inked by the youth sector and local government unit (LGU) through Quezon Rep. Jayjay Suarez, explaining that Filipino youth’s commitment to nation-building is a key driver to effectively deal with the serious challenges facing them.
Duterte said the active participation of the young generation would help positively shape their lives in achieving true and lasting progress.
She cited the rising cases of illegal drugs abuse, teenage pregnancies, AIDS, effects of climate change, bullying, and mental health as among the major issues affecting the youth sector.
“Kinabukasan ang pinag-uusapan. Kayo ang kinabukasan, if we do not talk to you about what is happening now, you will not learn from us. You will not get a better future for our country,” Duterte, Vice Presidential Candidate of Lakas-CMD, said.
In her speech, Duterte also expressed gratitude to the people of Quezon for the support they have been extending to his father, President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte.
Marcos, standard-bearer of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), and Duterte also delivered their respective unity messages before the Samahan ng Bisaya sa Dalahican (Sabida) led by its president, Antonio Monterola in the same venue.
Lakas-CMD President and House Majority Leader Martin G. Romualdez introduced Duterte at the event.
Quezon Gov. Danilo Suarez also welcomed Marcos and Duterte in a rally at the Lucena Convention Center here.
Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Lakas-CMD President Emeritus, attended the separate events held at the Queen Margarette Hotel and Lucena Convention Center.
Another rally organized by the Suarezes was attended by Marcos and Duterte at the Catanauan Central School in Catanauan town.
Duterte also joined local leaders in a rally at the Gumaca West Elementary School in Gumaca municipality.|-BNN/pr
