Sorsogon Governor Francis ‘’Chiz’’ Escudero’s senatorial candidacy earned another support from a partylist after the Alliance for Resilience Sustainability and Empowerment (ARISE) said it was endorsing the veteran legislator’s return to the 24-member Senate.
ARISE, a regional political group based in Bicol, declared its support for Escudero owing to his strong commitment to protect the interests of the agriculture sector and its allied industries, as well as the marginalized
“ARISE lauds the position of incoming Senator Chiz Escudero to consider the interests of the most vulnerable sectors in crafting trade deals such as the current Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP),” ARISE said in a statement.
‘’The incumbent governor of Sorsogon cautions our national legislators to make sure that trade deals ‘do not cripple our ability to produce our own food, support our sectors, and improve the lives of our own people,’” the party-list group said.
Members of ARISE include farmers, fisherfolks, women, drivers, agriculture workers, indigenous peoples, and the youth spread out in the provinces of Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Masbate.
ARISE also took note of governor’s “exemplary feats” in the province’s fight against the COVI-19 pandemic and for “supporting the needs of Sorsoganons for food and jobs, ensuring that no family got hungry during the difficult period of lockdowns.
The group further cited the best practices showcased by Sorsogon’s Provincial Health Office and in preparing the province of Sorsogon for the implementation of the Universal Health Act.
“ARISE also lauds the priority given by Governor Chiz Escudero for promoting the artistic, leadership and academic advancement of students in the province of Sorsogon on top of his efforts then during his previous Senate term to push for the passage of the free tuition fee law, now benefitting millions of college students,” it added.
ARISE is the latest political group to support Escudero’s candidacy to seek a fresh six-year term in the Senate.
Last week, partylists An Waray, Kusog Bikolandia and Magdalo declared their support for Escudero’s Senate return.
UniTeam vice-presidential candidate and incumbent Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte and mayors from CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and Eastern Samar who belong to the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) have endorsed Escudero.
The tandems of Senator Panfilo ‘’Ping’’ Lacson and Senate President Vicente ‘’Tito’’ Sotto III,Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Francis ‘’Kiko’’ Pangilinan, and Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao and Representative Lito Atienza have adopted Escudero in their senatorial slates.
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