POE PROMISES MORE THAN A MILLION JOBS A YEAR

AGUSAN DEL NORTE--Returning to Mindanao, a region which hosts 11 of the 20 poorest provinces, Sen. Grace Poe laid out plans to address poverty by creating at least a million jobs a year.

Poe, the lone independent presidential candidate, made the bold commitment as she met with supporters in Butuan City and reiterated her position that the problem of peace and order can only be stopped if poverty is addressed.

She said it was her desire for genuine inclusive growth that has kept her steady despite the difficult campaign.

"Sa inyong lahat, huwag po kayong mabahala. Sa lahat ng pinagdaanan ko sa buhay, kung saan pati ang aking pagka-Pilipino ay kinuwestiyon, kung saan nag-imbento sila ng mga istorya tungkol sa akin, hindi ako sumusuko sapagkat naniniwala ako na napapanahon na para ang problema natin sa kahirapan ay malutas," Poe said.

"At 'pag 'yan ay nalutas, pangako ko mahigit isang milyong trabaho ang idadagdag ko taon-taon," she said.

The senator went to Butuan after a quick trip to Surigao del Norte, where she was endorsed by Surigao del Norte Rep. Guillermo Romarate Jr. and Robert Ace Barbers of the Nacionalista Party, former supporters of administration bets.

She ended her Mindanao visit with a campaign rally in Cabadbaran, where she was welcomed by some 10,000 supporters. Cabadbaran is where the Kelleys--FPJ's maternal relatives--are from.

Among those who were rooting for Poe in the huge crowd was the long-time driver of her father Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ). Both Poe and Carmelito Añong, who served FPJ for 31 years, turned emotional when they saw each other.

"Bata pa lamang ako, sinabi na sa akin ng tatay ko kung gaano kahalaga ang Mindanao sa ating bayan. At 'nung siya ay tumakbo bilang pangulo, ganoon din ang kanyang mga naging pakay--na bigyan ng sapat na tulong ang Mindanao," Poe said.

"Gusto niyang umangat ang buhay at magkaisa ang lahat. Mga kababayan, 'yan din po ang nais namin. Nais ko na ang bawat mga kababayan natin dito ay magkaroon ng patas na pagkakataon na umangat din ang buhay," she said.

Surigao del Norte is the 25th poorest province in the Philippines with 33 percent of the population living below the poverty line. The same is true in Surigao del Sur, where 32.8 percent are poor. In Agusan del Norte, 3 of 10 people are considered poor.

"Mga kababayan makaasa kayo ang problema sa seguridad ay mababawasan; ang problema sa krimen ay mababawasan at ang ating pamilya ay mas maunlad. Pero kailangan isang pangulong mapagkakatiwalaan ninyo, na hindi kayo nanakawan; isang pangulo na tapat sa inyo, na may tapang pero makatarungan. 'Yan po ang inaalay ko sa inyong lahat at sa ating mga kababayan dito sa Mindanao," Poe said.