Senatorial bets, party-list continue campaign over the weekend

Several senatorial candidates continued their Eleksyon 2025 campaign on social media and in different parts of the country and abroad over the weekend.

Roads, bridges

In a statement, ACT-CIS Party-list Representative and senatorial candidate Erwin Tulfo sought accountability over the partial collapse of the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela.

“Ikulong ang mga may pananagutan sa pagkasira ng nasabing tulay para magtanda at hindi na pamarisan,” Tulfo said.

“Natapalan siguro ng contractor ng salapi ang mata ng mga inspectors at supervisors ng DPWH sa lugar na yun kaya lumusot sa government standards ang depektibong tulay,” he added.

(Those accountable should be jailed to learn their lesson and to set an example to others. Maybe inspectors and supervisors of the Department of Public Works and Highways were blinded by money so the ineffective bridge has slipped through government standards.)

The engineer behind the Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge had refuted claims that a design flaw caused its collapse, asserting that the structure adhered to the Bridge Code of the Philippines.

In a separate statement, Kiko Pangilinan said if given a Senate seat, he would push for toll fee exemptions for agricultural products and transport cost reductions for farmers.

He would also work on implementing a progress reporting system for major infrastructure projects to prevent delays caused by inefficiency or corruption.

Pangilinan also called on the government to expedite road projects in the country, particularly the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) and South Luzon Expressway Toll Road 4 (SLEX-TR4).

"Kapag naipit ang mga gulay at prutas sa traffic, lumalaki ang gastos sa transportasyon, nalulugi ang mga magsasaka, at tumataas ang presyo ng mga bilihin," Pangilingan said.

(If vehicles carrying fruits and vegetables are caught in traffic, farmers' transportation expenses will increase, they lose income, and prices will increase.)

Meanwhile, Senator Lito Lapid honored women’s strength and wit this Women’s Month.

“Saludo po tayo sa kanilang kababaang loob, talino at lakas para itaguyod ang kanilang mga pamilya,” Lapid said in a statement.

“Kinikilala rin po natin ang husay at tatag ng ating mga babaeng lider na matapang na nangunguna at nangangalaga sa ating nga komunidad. Maraming salamat po at mabuhay po kayo,” he added.

(I salute their humility, intellect, and strength to support their families. I also recognize the ability of our women leaders who are strong and who lead in caring for their communities.)

Paying respects to FA-50 jet pilots

Also on Sunday, senatorial bet Ariel Querubin expressed his condolences to the families of Major Jude Salang-Oy and First Lieutenant April John Dadulla, the two pilots of the Philippine Air Force who died when their FA-50 fighter jet crashed in Bukidnon province.

“Ako uli, nakikiramay sa mga naiwan nila na pamilya at mga kamag-anak. Dahil sila ang tunay na mga bayani, dapat alagaan natin at tulungan yung pamilya na naiwan nila. Napakalaki nung kawalan sa pamilya [at bayan] nung nangyari na ito,” Querubin said in a statement.

(I’m offering my condolences to their family since they are the true heroes so we should help them. They are a great loss to their families and the country.)

According to a statement on Saturday, Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa also expressed his condolences to Salang-Oy and Dadulla’s families on Friday.

Overseas

Senator Bong Revilla met Filipinos in Singapore from March 8-9.

On Saturday, Revilla talked to leaders of various Filipino organizations to consult and share updates on his work in the Senate.

The following day, Revilla met with Filipinos at the Lucky Plaza Mall along Orchard Road, where the many Filipinos took photos with him.

 The PDP-Laban banner was in Hong Kong along with Vice President Sara Duterte and former President Rodrigo Duterte to attend a thanksgiving event for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Across PH

Senator Francis Tolentino had a motorcade in Quezon City where he tossed what seemed to be rolled-up T-shirts to the people.

Meanwhile, lawyer Angelo de Alban went to wet markets in Bohol for his campaign, where he shared his platform for children with special needs and proliferation of courts in the country.

TRABAHO party-list nominee Johanne Bautista joined the Kanlahi Festival Grand Float Parade with celebrity Melai Cantiveros-Francisco in Tarlac City Saturday afternoon.

Bautista said through sustainable tourism programs like Kanlahi, thousands of regional employment opportunities are created and regional economic development is at hand.

“As a partylist that champions the availability, inclusivity, and sustainability of employment opportunities for the Filipino working class, TRABAHO Party-list aims to raise awareness about their core platforms among Tarlaqueños through the parade,” TRABAHO party-list said in a statement on Sunday. — BM, GMA Integrated News

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