Vice presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte vowed to boost employment and the quality of education in the country if she wins in the May 9 elections.

"Ang pinaka-una po natin (gagawin) ay ang pagbabalik po ng mga trabaho na nawala dahil sa pandemya," Duterte said in a statement released on Saturday.

(The first thing we will do is to recover the jobs that were lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic.)

Duterte said she had initiated job generation programs and support for pandemic-affected families in Davao City.

She said that she wanted to strengthen the quality of education in the country through measures such as skills training to boost competencies, adding that quality education is the "backbone of good employment."

"Kapag sinabi nating edukasyon, hindi lang po college degree yon, kasama na ang skills training doon dahil marami naman ang hindi kailangan ng college degree na trabaho," the vice presidential candidate said.

(When we say education, it is not just a college degree; it includes skills training because there are many jobs that do not require a college degree.)

The Davao mayor said her plans are aimed at providing a "peaceful living for every Filipino."

"Pangatlo, yung dream ng lahat - mapayapang pamumuhay dito sa ating bansa," she added.

(Third, everyone's dream is to have a peaceful life here in our country.)

Duterte, daughter of the chief executive, is running alongside presidential aspirant and former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

The 90-day campaign period for candidates for national positions officially started on Tuesday. -- VBL, GMA News