Senator Robinhood Padilla pledged to develop farm-to-market roads and enhance rights for the Mangyans following his visit to Barangay Panaytayan in Mansalay, Mindoro Oriental.
In his speech to the Mangyans, Padilla, who expressed gratitude for their support that helped him top the polls in Mindoro in 2022, promised to collaborate with Vice Governor Ejay Falcon to turn this commitment into reality.
“We saw that the people here need farm-to-market roads. You need them in your sitio,” he stated.
“This is something I can promise you because President Bongbong Marcos also wants to have roads in remote areas,” he added.
Padilla also committed to advocating for the rights of the Mangyans and other Indigenous Peoples (IPs), particularly concerning their ancestral lands.
The chairman of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs noted that IPs are not receiving what they are entitled to regarding their ancestral lands.
“What is happening is that other people are profiting from the use of the land, and not you. Like what the vice governor said, we will not keep silent. We will fight for you,” he emphasized.
Padilla visited Mindoro to participate in various activities, including registration drives, dental services, and medical missions for the Mangyans.
