Mobo-Garcia bares 5-point agenda, vows more jobs for Aklanons
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – Gubernatorial bet Maria Bettina Mobo-Garcia of the Partidong Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) outlined her 5-point agenda to move Aklan forward once she is elected on May 14 elections.
Mabeth, as she is popularly known to her supporters, is strongly working out for transparent and ethical governance, livelihood and jobs for the people, health for the poor, health for all, food security and sustainable tourism and environment.
“The graft and corruption are pervasive. There is lack of check and balance in projects due to single party rule similar to that in old communist states. Some 40% of government funds go to the pockets of corrupt officials,” she stressed.
A University of the Philippines graduate, Mobo-Garcia said there is a need to institutionalize the participation of private watchdogs, civil society and NGOs in government affairs to curb graft and corruption.
“Some 50% of Aklanons of working age, mostly the rural poor, are unemployed or underemployed,” she added.
She said the development of local enterprises like food processing and handicraft and the technical, financial and marketing support for local entrepreneurs and businessmen will spur businesses to grow and generate employment.
Sadly, health services in Aklan, Mobo-Garcia said, are biased against the poor. The provincial hospital is now run as a business enterprise devoid of social responsibility for the poor and less fortunate.
“As a result, the poor Aklanons suffer horribly in the so-called modern hospital. To remedy the situation, we have to make health and medical services available and affordable by establishing a Socialized Health Care program and People’s Health Care Fund to indigents,” she said.
The daughter of the late vice governor of Aklan, Mobo-Garcia pointed out, said food production lags behind the need of the people and the tourism industry and there is lack of program and support for farmers’ initiatives in food production.
“The food needs of tourism industry are increasing but the province cannot supply them. Vegetables and livestock are imported from other provinces,” she said.
Mobo-Garcia added the provincial government should implement sustainable agriculture and fisheries program by supporting farmers’ initiatives for self-reliant food production and encourage productivity in order to meet the food needs of tourism industry especially the needs of Boracay.
She is also supports training on technology and capital subsidy for food production for farmers and credit and technical assistance for entrepreneurs venturing to large-scale food production projects.