• We will come up with bills that in effect will support microenterprises so that they will survive and thrive. While the government has programs in place to help them financially, too many of these micro-enterprises have not accessed these programs.
• We will push for bigger budget to TESDA and other established manpower training centers to support scholarships for livelihood training on a “Study Now, Pay Later” scheme.
• We will propose bills that will facilitate and open wider market to micro, small and medium enterprises (SMMEs); they should all be market-driven.
• We will spearhead legislations that lessen bureaucracy in government’s Regulatory Agencies that often stifle micro-entrepreneurs due to burdensome requirements and processes such as in getting licenses, among many others.

After emerging from two years of the pandemic the employment landscape of the Philippines has worsened.  Thus:

• We will initiate bills that will rehabilitate SMMEs so that their capacity to open more jobs will be strengthened.
• We will pursue legislations that in effect will create a business environment that is conducive for the private sector to create jobs and increase human capital.
• We will look into the problem of underemployment that has impacted thousands, if not millions, of employees both in government and in the private sector. Many of them have been in service for many years now but still on “casual” or hold-over status, receiving very low compensation.

We will pursue legislative agenda that will strengthen government agencies with regulatory functions by using technology-driven transactions that minimizes human contact or intervention.  The will minimize the age-old bureaucracy and pervasive corruption.

We will pursue a legislative initiative that will make the Philippines transition from the traditional energy sources to renewable energy generators.   And this for two major reasons:  a) To lower the cost of electricity; b) To envision a clean environment due to lower if not zero carbon emissions.

The Universal Health Care Act has been signed in to law by President Rodrigo Duterte on February 20, 2019.   This law guarantees every Filipino an equitable access to quality and affordable health care goods and services.  This will need supplementary legislations for it to be comprehensively and effectively implemented.   The Damayan Party List will be in tow for such legislative initiatives.

We will support legislative agenda towards the establishment and expansion of mass transportation which includes the ongoing construction of subways, renovation of LRT and MRT, expansion of the railways to other regions and strengthen RORO systems to facilitate inter-island transportation.   Mass transport system will save time and resources for all, especially in sectors such as business and tourism, among others.

For industry and business to prosper, there is urgency for proper and sufficient infrastructure in place, e.g. communications, internet, utilities, roads and bridges. This will enhance industry and business which, consequently, will employment and job opportunities. We will support the continuation and having more Private-Public Partnership (PPP) to assist the government in infrastructure development. The following areas should be given priority: a) water resource management; b) public transport and rural development; and c) reconstruction of public infrastructure and housing projects, especially in calamity-stricken areas.

We will support a bigger budget for disaster preparedness, relief and rehabilitation of calamity victims.  A more comprehensive legislation should be in enacted so the national government at the LGUs will not keep reinventing the wheel every time a natural calamity strikes; given the fact the country is prone to typhoons and other natural disasters.

We will support legislation to reform the judiciary that would shorten the time to resolve cases.  We will support legislation that will actively prosecute and sanction justices that have gravely abused their discretion and thus, hinder rather than promote justice.

We promote localized town meeting consultations to have genuine people’s participation in the process of formulating laws. In this way, the proposed legislation will address the concerns and needs of the community and, at the same time, the process will contribute to improving the sense of civic duty and holistic development of the communities.

The recent highly publicized controversy between the athlete Obiena and Mr. Philip Juico highlights the top down dictates, lack of transparency and lack of support from some elements of the sports commission structure. There is a need to change to a more responsive and transparent organization that is accountable to produce results in the form of regional and world class athletes.