Marcos Jr.-Sara senatorial bets bare platforms for Eleksyon 2022

BULACAN —From providing education and jobs to reducing cost of electricity, senatorial candidates under the slate of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte presented their platforms and programs that they said will ease the burden of the Filipinos, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Present during the proclamation rally at the Philippine Arena were Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, former Defense chief Gilbert Teodoro, former Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista, former Public Works secretary Mark Villar, lawyer Larry Gadon, former senator Jinggoy Estrada and House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta.

House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, another senatorial aspirant, delivered a video message while former senator Gregorio Honasan was represented by his wife, Jane.

Zubiri said he wants another term in the Senate to push for the passage of the Bayanihan 3, which will provide aid to workers who were affected by the pandemic.

"Para magkaroon po ng ayuda muli at tulong sa iba't ibang industriya na natamaan ng COVID-19 tulad ng turismo, micro, small and medium enterprises, at iba pang industriya na nabugbog ng pandemiya," Zubiri said.

He also vowed to build more specialty hospitals across the country.

Gatchalian said he will push for quality education anew.

"Hindi pa po tapos ang ating trabaho. Tayo po ay pinalugmok ng pandemiya, tayo ay pinadapa ng pandemiya at ang aking adbokasiya, babangon muli ang sektor ng edukasyon at muling isusulong po natin ang kapakanan ng bawat isa sa isang delikalidad na edukasyon," Gatchalian said.

Gadon vowed to create more jobs for Filipinos if elected.

"Ang aking isusulong sa Senado 'pag ako ay naihalal sa inyong pamamgitan, gagawa ako ng batas na manghihikayat sa mga negosyante na magtayo ng maliliit na pabrika sa mga bayan-bayan upang ang ating mga kapwa Pilipino ay hindi na kailangan pang mangibang bansa at upang mabigyan natin sila ng permanenteng trabaho," Gadon said.

In a pre-recorded video message, Legarda said she will push for the amendment of the Public Employment Service Office or PESO Law so its services would reach the barangay level.

"Patuloy din po nating papalakasin ang ating mga lokal na pamahlaan hanggang barangay level para sa mas aktibong pamimigay ng mga social services lalo sa pagbibigay ng trabaho at pangkabuhayan," she added.

Estrada also vowed to create more jobs for Filipinos.

"Noon at ngayon, tuloy ang laban ko para sa manggagawang Pilipino. Trabaho para sa lahat, trabaho may dignidad," he said.

Marcoleta said he will push for a law that will reduce the cost of electricity in the country.

"Kailangan po nating maibaba ang presyo ng kuryente sa bansang ito. Bakit po? Ang pangunahing layunin ng batas ay ibigay ang kuryente sa presyong abot kaya," he said.

Roque thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for starting change in the society as he vowed that the UniTeam would continue these changes.

"Mayor, kung nanonood ka, sana po kasama namin kayo ngayon. Pero maski hindi po namin kayo kasama, ang pangako po namin ng inyong anak, Inday Sara, ng inyong tatlong Gabinete na kabahagi ng UniTeam, ng inyong deputy speaker sa House, ang inyong Majority Leader sa Senate, ang inyong nais sanang maging presidente, Gibo Teodoro, pagpapatuloy po namin ang pagbabago sa lipunan ng Pilipinas," Roque said.

Bautista, for his part, shared his 30 years of experience that he could offer to the public. He vowed to provide housing projects for Filipinos.

"Housing for all ang bibigay po natin, 'yung private sector at saka 'yung government pag nagsanib, mas maraming pabahay ang puwedeng maitulong sa mga kababayan natin," Bautista said.

Meanwhile, Teodoro urged the public to support their candidacies as they are individuals who are "forward looking" and whose programs will surely benefit Filipinos.

"Hindi po kaya ni President BBM na magisa, hindi po kaya ni Vice President Sara Duterte na mag-isa, kung hindi po lahat tayo, isa-isa po kami, isa-isa po kayo," Teodoro said.

Villar also called for unity among Filipinos for the future generation.

"Ito na ang panahon para magkaisa, huwag na tayong makipag-away sa isa't-isa, lahat tayo ay isang bansa. Nakikita ko ang buong Luzon, Visayas, at Mindanao," Villar said.—With a report from Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News