Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III has decided not to join the Senate race for the 2022 polls and instead vowed to intensify the government's assistance to workers.
In a virtual media briefing on Monday, Nov. 15, Bello said he would rather help Filipino workers who have been displaced by the pandemic than to participate in next year’s elections.
"I find it urgent to address the needs of our displaced workers so I’m no longer participating in the polls," Bello explained.
Following his decision to stay as DOLE's head, Bello assured to help in the recovery of the country's employment rate from the crises brought by ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
He also noted the importance of the government's amelioration program to reach all workers including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
"That is also one of my priorities in keeping my job in DOLE. We need to bring back the jobs our workers lost because of the global outbreak," he added.
Bello said he would also continue his tasks in DOLE and the International Labor Organization (ILO) where he currently chairs the government group and further push for the UN body’s democratization in an upcoming conference this month.
Bello was among the incumbent Cabinet officials urged by President Duterte to run for senator. He was also included in the initial senatorial slate of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.
The labor chief earlier said he would seek for a slot in the higher chamber if Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio runs for president, but she already filed her candidacy for vice president through substitution on Saturday, Nov. 13.
The possibility of Bello joining the Senate race resurfaced also on Saturday after former DOLE Secretary Marianito Roque withdrew his certificate of candidacy for senator. Reports said that Roque named Bello as his substitute under the Lakas-CMD party.