Leni Robredo wants to handle special projects as VP

Instead of being a Cabinet secretary, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo wants to take charge of special anti-poverty projects should she become the country’s next vice president.

In an interview with Mike Enriquez over dzBB radio Monday for the "Ikaw Na Ba...The Vice Presidential Interview" program, Robredo said she wants to focus on projects aimed at reducing homelessness and ensuring food security if she wins in the May 2016 polls.

While the government has allocated billions of pesos in relocation funds for informal sectors, the lawmaker said the process of providing new homes for the homeless can still be improved.

“Sa akin kailangang ma-streamline [ang proseso], magkaroon ng convergence lahat ng programa, kasi ngayon ang mga nangangailangan [ng bahay] ang dami pa nilang kailangang puntahang opisina, kuhaning pirma. [Ang pagkakaroon ng bahay] ay parang so near yet so far,” she said.

To combat hunger, Robredo said she believes the government must go beyond implementing feeding programs. She said people must be empowered to provide for themselves and their families.

“Ang traditional concept kasi sa paglaban sa malnutrition ay magkaroon lang ng feeding program. Hindi ako naniniwala doon. Hindi sustainable 'yun. Ako kasi, hangga’t 'di naa-address ang issue ng poverty, gagastos lang tayo ng gagastos para sa feeding,” she said.

Stakeholder participation

Robredo is one of the co-authors of a House resolution that seeks to improve the allocation of funds for social services while ensuring that the stakeholders are consulted.

H.R. 236 states "there is a need to guarantee equal distribution of government resources for district level initiatives that can be facilitated by a District Representative who presumably knows the needs of the grassroots, and the appropriate programs and projects to be implemented."

The resolution said this process would help ensure that government funds will only be used for projects that would bring "the greatest good to the greatest number."

Pro-poor stance

Robredo is the widow of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo a.k.a. "Boy Tsinelas" as he was known to report for work in slippers especially as he went to flood-devasted areas in the country.

Jesse died in a plane crash on August 18, 2012. 

The Robredo couple are known for their pro-poor advocacies. Robredo was a human rights lawyer before she became a lawmaker. Even now, she continues to provide free legal assistance to the poor.

—with Veronica Pulumbarit/KG, GMA News