MANILA – A ranking official of Aksyon Demokratiko on Wednesday said the party, along with the Alliance for Isko Movement (AIM), has gone full blast with its “Switch to Isko” media blitz to gain more supporters for its standard bearer and presidential hopeful Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.

Lawyer Bobbit Roco, son of the late senator and party founder Raul Roco, said the initiative is part of their campaign to further increase public awareness on the qualities and track record of Domagoso that makes him the most qualified among the presidential candidates.

“Si Isko is the only one na sumusunod sa mga prinsipyo ng (Isko is the only one following the principles of) Aksyon Demokratiko – honest governance, opportunity for all, especial privileges to none, pag babantayan natin yung mga (and base on) people, productivity and prosperity. And then siyempre, huwag nating kakalimutan ang (and of course, let us not forget about the) environment and education. Lahat yan ginagawa ni Isko (Isko did all that) I don’t think any other candidate can say the same thing,” he added.

Roco said their task is to increase awareness about their standard-bearer through the various media centers.

Part of the “Switch to Isko” campaign strategy is to increase awareness is to highlight Domagoso’s achievements as first term mayor of Manila despite the challenges brought by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Aksyon Demokratiko national chair Ernest Ramel said Domagoso’s solution-based approach and swift action amid diversities makes him the leader that the country needs in these trying times.

“Bakit kailangan mag-switch to Isko? Dahil siya lamang ang bukod sa alam at naranasan ang mga nararanasan ng milyun-milyong Pilipino araw-araw, siya din ang may napatunayan at pruweba na. Pinapangako palang ng lahat, si Mayor Isko nagawa na — may pandemiya pa ito (why is the need to switch to Isko? Because he is the only one who knows the hardships being experienced daily by millions of Filipinos. Others are just promising solutions to problems, Mayor Isko already provided solutions even though there is still an ongoing pandemic),” he said.

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the City Government of Manila, under Domagoso’s leadership, built modern public hospitals like the Bagong Ospital ng Maynila; modern public school buildings like the New Manila Science High School; and modern housing for informal settlers like Tondominium, Binondominium and Basecommunity which created jobs and livelihood opportunities when the people needed them most.

Ramel also cited Moreno’s massive cleaning and beautification drive, innovative mass vaccination program, free mass testing and medicines for Covid-19, and various social assistance programs, among others.

Besides the media campaign, the “Switch to Isko” also include two “Bus ni Isko” and 204 registered vehicles that roam across the country to give various campaign collaterals, house-to-house activities, and city caravans in order to raise awareness and intensify Domagoso’s campaign.

Roco said their “Switch to Isko” campaign has been very successful, with the latest edition bringing him and AIM leaders in Bacolod, Iloilo, Baguio and Pangasinan in the past days.

He added that their awareness campaign, along with Domagoso’s sorties in out-of-the-way areas and rarely visited municipalities, had convinced a lot from the silent majority to cast their lot on Mayor Isko, who they consider as one of their own.

Just recently, over 50 volunteer groups and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) coming mostly from the camp of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. switched their support to the Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer in an event aptly dubbed “The Biggest Switch” that was held at the Great Eastern Hotel in Quezon City.

All in all, the organizations present at the event boast of more than 10 million members nationwide.

Roco said the number of supporters switching to Domagoso more than offset the very few deserters who left the campaign which, he said, have been overblown by the media in the first place.

He urged the public to be more discerning in their choice of candidate, and vote for someone who can really deliver a better Philippines from what it is now.

“We are entering the eleventh hour of the campaign, malapit ng mag-12 (it is nearing the 12th) Everybody is encouraged to go out to campaign for the candidate that they want. Ang sinasabi ko lang (what I am saying right now), you must want Isko because he is I think the best candidate for the job, especially given the problems the Philippines is facing right now. Kailangan na nating magtulong-tulong. Hindi na dahil kakampi o kapitbahay. Para sa Pilipinas na ang pinag-uusapan natin ngayon (We need to help each other, not because we are allies or neighbors. The stakes we are talking now is for the Philippines),” he said. (PNA)