Opposition personalities bare support plans

Metro Manila, Philippines — Key opposition personalities seeking congressional seats launched their support raising plan called “Mga Kaibigan” (friends) for the midterm elections.

In a program at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City on Wednesday, Oct. 16, Senator Risa Hontiveros called on the public to back the Senate comeback bids of Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino.

Pangilinan vowed to push for the welfare of those in the agriculture sector and food security.

“In a 15-year period, kayang i-times seven o eight ang budget ng isang departamento. ‘Yan ang dapat mangyari sa agrikultura, gawing five to seven times more in the next six to ten years para ang suporta sa agri-enterprise ay gumanda, tumaas ang income at kita para ang kabataan ay ma-enganyong pumasok sa pagsasaka,” he said.

[Translation: In a 15-year period, a department’s budget can be multiplied by seven or eight times. The same should happen to the agriculture department. Its budget should be five to seven times more in the next six to ten years so support for the agri-enterprise will be good, income will increase, encouraging the youth to farm.]

Aquino, who authored the free college law, said he wants to establish a system that will streamline job provision to graduates.

“I-integrate natin ang mga negosyo, ang pampubliko at pampribadong institusyon du’n sa ating educational system. Maaga pa lang alam na ng mga kabataan kung may bukas na trabaho du’n sa kanilang lugar at bago pa gumraduate, dapat may job offer na,” he explained.

[Translation: We will integrate businesses, public and private institutions in our educational system. With this, the youth will know if there is a job opening in their place and before they graduate, they should already get a job offer.]

Former Senator Leila de Lima and lawyer Chel Diokno, who are eyeing a House seat, also joined the campaign’s kickoff.

De Lima, first nominee of Mamamayang Liberal Party-list, said she will push for social justice.

“Gusto namin na maging boses kami – malakas at matapang na boses – para sa representation ng iba-ibang mga marginalized sectors,” she said.

[Translation: We want to be the voice – a loud and strong voice – to represent various marginalized sectors.]

Among the plans of Diokno, Akbayan party-list first nominee, are the protection of human rights.

“Ang proposal ko is ang PNP (Philippine National Police) Discipline Act. Aalisin natin sa loob ng PNP ang kapangyarihang mag disiplina at ibibigay natin sa Civil Service Commission o isang civilian agency na independent ng kapulisan natin,” he said in a media interview.

[Translation: My proposal is the PNP Discipline Act. We will remove the power to discipline from the PNP and give it to the Civil Service Commission or an independent civilian agency.]

“Pangalawa ay Death Investigation and Recording Law para lahat ng mga napatay under suspicious circumstances o obvious naman na pinatay ay una, mare-record natin kung sino sila at pangalawa, magkakaroon ng autopsy para malaman natin ang tunay na dahilan kung ba’t sila napatay,” the lawyer added.

[Translation: Second is the Death Investigation and Recording Law so each fatality under suspicious circumstances or was obviously killed will be recorded, and there will be an autopsy to know the real reason why they died.]

The aspirants said they will boost their online presence and fight misinformation.