Not the KPop band: Sen. Koko Pimentel to bring ‘BTS’ to Marikina
Koko Pimentel, now running for congressman, is joined by supporters showing their full backing for his candidacy.
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III vowed to bring his signature “BTS Program” to Marikina City to address the city’s most pressing issues such as chronic flooding, lack of jobs, and the decline of its once-vibrant shoe industry.
Not to be confused with the South Korean pop group, Pimentel’s BTS — short for Baha, Trabaho, Sapatos — stands for a focused legislative agenda as a candidate for representative of the first district of Marikina City aimed at flood mitigation, livelihood creation, and industry revival.
At the heart of his plan is the revival of the shoe industry that once put Marikina and the entire nation on the global stage.
“The people of Marikina deserve more than just temporary solutions. Through the BTS Program, we aim to create real, lasting opportunities for work and entrepreneurship,” he said.
Pimentel has filed Senate Bill No. 2997 seeking to officially declare Marikina City as the “Shoe Capital of the Philippines,” cementing its historic role as the country’s leading center for shoemaking.
Pimentel surrounded by his Marikina supporters
More volunteers join Pimentel.
In the explanatory note of the bill, Pimentel emphasized the strong national association between Marikina and shoes:
“In the Philippines, when Filipinos talk about ‘shoes’, ‘Marikina’ is the first word or place that comes to their ‘kokote’ (mind),” said Pimentel, who has lived in the city for over five decades.
He further reinforced Marikina’s historic role in the country’s footwear industry. The city’s history with footwear dates back to 1887, when Kapitan Moy produced the first known pair of locally crafted shoes, sparking a community-wide interest in the trade. Today, more than 200 registered shoemakers and retailers continue to operate in the city.
Pimentel, who is running for congressman of Marikina’s first district, also cited key developments that have fueled the industry’s growth.
Marikina shoe trade
“In more recent times, then Marikina Mayor Osmundo ‘Munding’ de Guzman, in 1967, founded the Marikina Shoe Trade Commission. This development spurred the growth of the Marikina shoe industry and catapulted Marikina-made shoes into national prominence, thus giving sustainable livelihood opportunities to thousands of Marikeños.”
Underscoring the purpose of the bill, Pimentel stressed the importance of preserving and recognizing Marikina’s legacy:
“As such, the rich heritage of shoemaking in Marikina City should be preserved and actively promoted. One effective way of doing this is to officially and formally recognize what is already an accepted fact – that Marikina City is the ‘Shoe Capital of the Philippines’,” he added.
Pimentel has also filed Senate Bill No. 2994 or the “Act Strengthening the Philippine Shoe Industry,” which seeks to establish state-supported shoe manufacturing hubs across the country, with Marikina positioned as the flagship site. The measure proposes shared service facilities, modern machinery, and infrastructure support to help MSMEs compete in both local and global markets.
As part of his sustained support for the Marikina footwear industry, Pimentel, along with his wife Special Envoy to the UAE Kathryna Yu-Pimentel, strongly supported the “Pamana ng Sapatos” initiative attended by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos.
Last year, Pimentel led the distribution of shoes to 1,000 outstanding public school students in District 1 of Marikina and about 800 teachers in district 1.
Address floodings
Pimentel also sought to champion measures and programs that will address the perennial flooding in the city.
He said he will support and push for the immediate funding and construction of the three major dams upstream of the Marikina River — a move he says is crucial not only for the city but for Metro Manila’s wider floodplain. The project needs around ₱150 billion to ₱180 billion.
“We cannot afford to wait any longer,” Pimentel said. “The floods are not just a problem for Marikina; they affect the entire Metro Manila. This is a shared responsibility, and we need to push for their immediate implementation. We will work hard to ensure these projects are funded and implemented timely.”
He called on national agencies and surrounding LGUs to treat the project as a regional priority, warning that further delays would only worsen the damage to communities and infrastructure.
Pimentel’s program also includes a wide-ranging jobs agenda, from livelihood assistance and micro-financing for startups and SMEs, to technical training and business incubation. He stressed the need for long-term, sustainable solutions that would enable Marikina residents not only to recover but to thrive.
“Marikina deserves a representative who understands its people and its issues,” he said. “I have been a part of this city’s journey for 50 years, and I am committed to pushing for the change and progress that we need. We have work to do.”
Through BTS, Pimentel envisions a Marikina that is flood-resilient, economically strong, and proud of its heritage.
