VP bet Manzano still optimistic despite poor showing in survey

Administration vice presidential bet Edu Manzano remains optimistic about his chances in the 2010 polls despite his dismal performance in a recent survey. The three percent preference rating he received in the December 5 to 10 survey of the Social Weather Stations “is a good start" for someone who formally announced his candidacy only in November. “Halos hindi pa kami nakakaikot (We have yet to start our sorties) so I would like to think that the three points that I got is a good start for me, a good spring board," he told GMANews.TV in an interview before the taping of GMA’s Isang Tanong: The Vice Presidential Forum which will be aired on Jan 17. “Isang beses pa lang akong nasu-survey…May habol pa (It was my first time to be included in the survey…I can still catch up)," he added. The SWS pre-election survey released on December 22 showed Manzano in the fourth place, next to Senators Manuel Roxas II and Loren Legarda, and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay. The former head of Optical Media Board also told GMANews.TV that he wants to head the Department of Interior and Local Government once elected as his expertise are on local governance, being a former vice mayor of Makati, and law enforcement. He also wants to contribute on improving the Philippines’ educational system. Manzano believes that he can also lead the tourism department. “Tourism is a very good agency as it can be a generator for economic prosperity," he said. It took administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD some time before being able to pick the running mate of its standard bearer former Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. Manzano was among the four being considered for the post. Others were Senator Loren Legarda, who chose to team up with Nacionalista Party’s Senator Manuel Villar Jr., Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, and Sen Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. who decided to run for reelection upon the advice of his father, former senator Ramon Revilla Sr. - GMANews.TV