Senatorial aspirant Manicad expresses frustration over lack of policymaking

Senatorial aspirant and former broadcast journalist Jiggy Manicad on Wednesday expressed his frustration over the lack of policymaking on several social issues including those he exposed as a member of the media.

Manicad said in his 23 years in the media industry, he exposed different social issues which he said only led to awareness but not to change.

"Bilang mamamahayag, may mga frustrations din po,” Manicad said during his interview on Dobol B sa News TV’s Ikaw Na Ba? senatorial interviews.

"May mga bagay na ie-expose ka, gagawan mo ng istorya, subalit pagdating po sa policymaking level—bagamat nakaka-create ka ng awareness—nagkukulang, hindi po nagbabago."

Manicad said if elected in the May elections, he will work for legislation for overseas Filipino workers, disaster preparedness, and agriculture.

"Bakit tayo tinaguriang agricultural country,  pero import ng galunggong, import ng bigas, import ng asukal, import ng manok. Natatakot tayo sa African swine flu dahil nag-iimport ng baboy," Manicad said.

"Paano ho tayo bilang agricultural country kung hindi po natin babaguhin yung mismong polisiya?" he added.

The former broadcast journalist said he may be a political neophyte, but he is not new when it comes to social issues.

"Nakita ko po yung iba't ibang isyu ng lipunan the past 23 years bilang broadcast journalist. Kung baga sa bata, sa kalye po ako lumaki,” he said.

"Bagong-bago ako sa pulitika pero hindi po sa isyu ng lipunan.”

Manicad is a former anchor of GMA News and Public Affairs' programs such as Reporter’s Notebook and Quick Response Team. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News