Presidential frontrunner Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. has vowed to address the needs of the people of Lanao del Norte as he met thousands of UniTeam supporters during his sortie in the province on Tuesday.

During his speech, Marcos said he sees the need to improve the quality of education in the province, one of the major concerns mentioned by Governor Imelda ‘Angging’ Quibranza Dimaporo.

“Ang educational system natin kailangang tingnan at bigyan ng mas malaking suporta ang ating mga guro,” he said.

Aside from education, Marcos also mentioned the continuation of the Duterte administration’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure program, to create more jobs as well as the improvement of digital infrastructure in the province.

“Isama natin yung digital infrastructure dahil yung internet natin naging napakalaking bahagi na sa buhay natin. Kailangan ayusin ang digital infrastructure para ang internet maging mas mabilis, malawak ang coverage at mas mura,” he said.

“Iilan lang yan na kailangan nating tugunan. Alam naman natin na dito sa krisis ng pandemya, nakita natin lahat ng Pilipino, kahit mayayaman, mahirap, sikat, lahat ng Pilipino ay nangangailangan ngayon ng tulong,” he added.

Marcos also reminded the public to avail the booster shots being offered by the government for the country to continue its recovery.

“Nasa krisis pa rin tayo ng pandemya at mukhang di matapos-tapos. Kaya’t papayuhan ko din kayo na mga qualified magpa-booster shot, magpa-booster shot na kayo para hindi na natin kailangan isipin ang mga lockdown dahil ayaw na natin magka-lockdown dahil masyadong naghihirap ang tao,” he said.

“Alagaan natin ang sarili natin para di tayo tamaan ng Covid na ito at sa gayon ay makakapagtrabaho na ulit,” he added.

Clad in red and green, supporters were all excited when Marcos arrived at the jam-packed Mindanao Civic Center (MCC) Gymnasium in Tubod town.

Marcos thanked the people of Lanao del Norte for their warm reception.

“Napakalaki ng pasasalamat ko sa inyo na nagtiyaga kayo ng napakatagal para lang magkasama tayo dito ngayong umaga,” he said.

“Dapat pala inagahan ko ang pagpunta dito sa Tubod. Matagal na naming pinaplano ni Gov. Angging at Congressman Bobby ito pero for whatever reason, di kami nakapunta. Sa wakas pinilit ko,” he said.

Marcos said while surveys showed that there is no need for him to visit the province, he still believed that there is a need to see the people of Lanao del Norte.

“Sabi sa survey di ko na kailangan pumunta sa Lanao del Norte, sabi ko papaanong hindi ako pupunta? Nandoon lahat ng kaibigan ko,” he said.

Uniteam senatoriables Gibo Teodoro, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, Sen. Migz Zubiri, Robin Padilla, Jinggoy Estrada, Mark Villar and Harry Roque also joined Marcos in today’s rally.

Other officials present were Vice Governor Cristy Atay, 1st District Representative Mohamad Khalid Quibranza Dimaporo, 2nd District Cong. Abdullah ‘Bobby’ Dimaporo, 2nd District Representative aspirant Sittie Aminah Quibranza Dimaporo and Vice Governor aspirant Allan Lim.

After his visit in Lanao del Norte, Marcos is also expected to visit the province of Cagayan de Oro where another UniTeam rally is scheduled to be held later in the afternoon.