Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — This election season’s crop of potential and declared presidential candidates seem to have different priorities.
Vice President Jejomar Binay wants to relax constitutional provisions on foreign ownership to attract job-creating investments in the country.
Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II is expected to continue President Aquino’s labor export policy — creating jobs through the booming Business Process Outsourcing Industry.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who has yet to decide whether he will run for president in 2016 — has pushed for greater peace and security to generate more jobs especially in the poorest regions of Mindanao.
Sen. Grace Poe, meanwhile, has yet to give her platform as she is also undecided like Duterte. Her past speeches, however, is almost of the same tone as that of the mayor: less crime, more jobs.
CNN Philippines asked some people what is the most important issue they want the candidates to tackle in the 2016 Elections.
“Kabuhayan ang number one, yun lang naman ang importante diba?,” said Herminio Balbin.
“Makikita nila yung mga mahihirap na nandyan sa kalsada, na dapat may ahensya na mamumuno para sana mabigyan sila ng pansin at… mabigyan sila ng training para may hanapbuhay sila,” said Jay Sumundo.
Political analysts told CNN Philippines that the issue of job creation would be on top of voters’ concerns in the 2016 presidential elections.
“I don’t mean the conditional cash transfer which are in the form of dole-outs. How we are able to address poverty in the form of giving people employment domestically,” said Professor Roland Simbulan of the University of the Philippines (UP).
Likewise, UP political analyst Temario Rivera explained that the candidates must convey to voters how economic growth will trickle down the chain.
“Ang pinangangalandakan ng administrasyon, yung current administration, yung economic growth but economic growth to be real must be inclusive.”
Rivera added today’s voters are more practical. They will vote for the candidate who can bring food to their tables three times a day.
For his part, Simbulan believes that voters are still expected to go for the candidate who has the best personality than their platforms.
“Dito parang they hardly touch on these issues eh, policies no. More personalities, and if ever, corruption, corruption charges.”
Nevertheless, both Rivera and Simbulan added the issues surrounding the West Philippine Sea and the Bangsamoro Basic Law will also matter to voters.
