Former Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary and senatorial aspirant Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Piñol seeks to advance programs to improve the lives of farmers and give food security to Filipinos.
This was after the second day of the official campaign period for the 2022 national elections, when Senator Panfilo M. Lacson and Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, presidential and vice presidential candidates, respectively, faced voters in Quezon City, where Sotto began his political career as Vice Mayor from 1988 until 1992.
Piñol also joined the meeting.
He suggested that model food outlets be put up in Quezon City, so that city residents could buy fresh produce and meats straight from the farms and the seas through Filipino fishermen.
Piñol had asked aloud why Israel is far advanced that the Philippines although Israel is a small nation.
Lacson said Piñol is right since Israel has 2.2 million hectares compared to the Philippines which has 30 million hectares that has ample water supply and has fertile lands.
‘’Bakit tayo mahirap (why are we poor)? Bakit hindi tayo umaasenso (Why are we not improving)? Dahil ang binoboto natin yun namemerwisyo (Because the people we vote in are the ones who destroy),’’ he added.
The Lacson-Sotto tandem held their campaign rally at the Quezon City Circle Covered Court along with Partido Reporma senatorial bets retired General Guillermo Eleazar, health advocate Dr. Minguita Padilla, and former Makati Rep. Monsour del Rosario.
Lacson and Sotto said they want to uplift and nurture the livelihoods of farmers and fishermen alike, as they have spearheaded investigations in the Senate into agricultural smuggling that is crippling the local industry.
The two advocate Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (BRAVE) as the solution to rampant corruption in the government, as funds from the national government would be brought down to the grassroots, so local government units can better plan their projects for their constituents toward their own progress.
Lacson, former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, said he believes this program is the best weapon against poverty and would lift up more Filipinos.
He has laid out BRAVE in previous consultations with local officials and various sectors right from the outset of his and Sotto’s candidacy last September when they were the first pair to declare their intentions to run.
Meanwhile, guest senatorial candidate JV Ejercito shared his belief in the Lacson-Sotto tandem to advance the healthcare sector, which is aligned with the Universal Health Care Act that he helped author in the Senate.
Ejercito hopes Lacson and Sotto, his former Senate colleagues, could improve medical services for all Filipinos in all parts of the country, especially amid the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic.