Senators vow support, cooperation with Marcos admin

Senators expressed their support Thursday to newly-sworn President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., vowing cooperation in passing important measures in the Upper Chamber.

Re-elected Senator Joel Villanueva lauded Marcos' mention of the importance of job opportunities, technical vocation training, and fair wages in his inaugural speech.

"We will coordinate with the economic managers of the new administration, especially with incoming [Department of Migrant Workers] Sec. Toots Ople and incoming Labor Sec. Bienvenido Laguesma, so we can work on programs for the welfare and development of our workers," Villanueva, former chairman of the Senate labor and employment committee, said.

Among these programs are the institutionalization of the National Employment Strategy and the TUPAD Emergency Employment program.

He highlighted the importance of institutionalizing these programs as these are "very appropriate for addressing the effects of the current crises on our workers, particularly those from the transportation and agriculture sectors."

Senator Bong Go, confidant of former President Rodrigo Duterte, said he is looking forward "to working hard with my fellow legislators and helping realize the aspirations of your administration for our people."

He promised to continue to push for various bills that will further strengthen adaptability and resilience as one nation, particularly in health, infrastructure, food security, economy, better governance and welfare of our people, among others. 

"With a solid foundation inherited from the Duterte Administration, paraphrasing your inaugural speech, we will build on the successes that are already happening in our country, continue to make the lives of our people more comfortable, and ensure that no Filipino will be left behind in our road towards fuller recovery," he said.

"Mr. President, kaisa ninyo ako na ipagpapatuloy ang mga tamang nagawa, punuan pa ang anumang pagkukulang at mas lalong pagbutihin ang ating pagseserbisyo upang lubos na maisakatuparan ang mga pangarap ng bawat Pilipino," he added.

(Mr. President, I am one with you in continuing the right program, addressing any shortcoming, and further enhancing services in order to fulfill the aspirations of every Filipino.)

With Marcos' message of unity, Go expressed confidence that the government will overcome the challenges that the country faces today and will face in the future.

Returning Senator Jinggoy Estrada, in a Facebook post, also promised his full support to the Marcos administration in order to address the problems of the society and uplift the lives of the Filipinos.

Marcos earlier took his oath as the 17th president of the Philippines after he won the 2022 elections with 58% of the votes.—AOL, GMA News