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Regain Marikina’s glory: Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, during Monday’s media briefing, October 7, 2024, says he would concentrate on Marikina City’s shoe industry and solving the perennial flooding in the city. Pimentel made the statement a day after he filed his Certificate of Candidacy as the representative of Marikina’s first district. The minority leader, who is in his last term as a senator, stated that the shoe industry should benefit from free trade agreements (FTAs) that the Philippines entered into with other countries. This has been the assurance of the country's trade negotiators “so let’s make it happen.” He said FTAs is one of the insights he learned from the Senate. “Shoes equals Marikina. Let’s live that promise in the FTAs. I would concentrate on the shoe industry. We should take advantage of these FTAs,” Pimentel stressed. He said he would also focus on the flood problem in the city which affects its real estate value. Pimentel also expressed concern over Marikina’s debt, which he said is one of the highest among other cities. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)