MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines may not recover in 2022 if the president who will not continue "Daang Matuwid" will win next year's polls, President Benigno Aquino III said Monday.
Speaking at the national assembly of the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas, Aquino reminded community leaders that the country's achievements under his watch will be at risk if the administration's "Daang Matuwid" platform will be discontinued.
"Idiin ko lang: Sa susunod na eleksiyon, di lang anim na taon ang nakataya, kundi ang mismong buhay at kinabukasan ng bawat Pilipino," Aquino said.
"Kung lilihis nga po tayo sa tuwid at talagang subok sa 2016, walang nakakatiyak na makakabawi pa tayo pagdating ng 2022," he added.
Aquino took the opportunity to urge the country's barangay leaders to support his preferred successor, presidential aspirant Manuel Roxas II.
He said community leaders should not be partisan politicians but they must back the one who will continue the administration's reforms.
"Ang akin po: Dapat tumulong kayo sa talakayan; himukin ninyo sa diskurso’t debate ang inyong mga kasamahan at tanungin: Sino nga ba ang nararapat na mamuno sa bansa pagdating ng taong 2016?" Aquino said.
"Di ko na ho kailangang sabihin sa inyo kung sino ang kandidatong papanigan ko. Ang boto ko, doon sa siguradong itutuloy ang Daang Matuwid," he added.
Last July, Aquino formally endorsed Roxas as the Liberal Party's standard bearer.
Roxas is expected to identify his running mate on Wednesday along with the members of the Liberal Party's senatorial ticket.