SAN NICOLAS—Presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe said if she is elected in the May 9 polls, she will put up regional offices of Malacanang to make government closer to the people.

She made the pledge during her visit to the towns of Sta. Maria, Asingan and San Manuel last week. “Malacanang should not only be in Manila,” Ms. Poe said.

“There should be regional offices across the country and the first to be put up would be in Pangasinan,” she told Pangasinenses.

She said when her dad, the late Fernando Poe Jr (FPJ) ran in 2004 presidential election, Pangasinan was first to declare him that he was a Filipino.

“And when I ran for senator in 2013, although I am a foundling, Pangasinan also was first to say I am a daughter of Pangasinan so I was also number one here in 2013 (senatorial election),” she said before a crowd of over 5,000 people led by Mayor Rebecca Saldivar and Abono partylist founder Rosendo So.

Poe said this gave her confidence in her presidential bid.

Although she is sometimes criticized for her lack of experience in public service, she said there is nothing wrong with being new.

“People love newly cooked rice, new house, new graduate…. so I hope a new leader also,” she said.

She said she would be a listening president and would respond to the needs of the people. “I would not play deaf to your needs,” she said as she promised indigent students access to education and free irrigation for farmers.

Poe’s running-mate, Francis “Chiz” Escudero and their senatorial bet Samuel Pagdilao, joined her, already her team’s sixth sortie here since the start of the campaign. (Tita Roces)

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