Ramon Magsaysay 2021 awardee and fisherfolk leader, Robert “Ka Dodoy” Ballon, led sectoral representatives who are looking forward to the fulfillment of Vice President Leni Robredo’s “Hanapbuhay Para Sa Lahat” (Jobs for All) plan once she wins next year’s presidential elections and becomes the country’s Chief Executive.
Ballon and other sectoral representatives were at the Office of the Vice President to listen to Robredo announce and discuss her “Hanapabuhay Para Sa Lahat” plan last Friday, December 10.
Ballon said that Robredo was very much aware of the agriculture sector’s problem with the “value chain”.
“Alam nya kung ano ang problema sa baba, ano ang problema sa market at ano yung problema talaga ng ating mga sector ng mangingisda at magsasaka para paano sila umasenso at makisabay sa programang pangkabuhayan umangat talaga sa kahirapan (Leni knows the problems of the different sectors, such as fisherfolks and farmers. She knows what livelihood programs these sectors need) ,” said Ballon, who is part of the Pambansang Kilusan ng Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA).
PAKISAMA president, Herminio Absalon, added that Robredo’s plan to develop modern practices in farming and invest in green infrastructures would vastly improve the farming industry. Absalon trusts it will materialize when Robredo wins in next year’s elections.
Absalon said Robredo has already been helping farmers with their problems especially on the issue of farmlands even before she became a politician.
Jaybee Garganera of the Green Agenda for Leni said he is also looking forward to Robredo’s plan for the green development of local government units.
Pushing for a “Green Transport” such as e-jeepneys, e-tricycles, and other climate-friendly vehicles and building a green and resilient infrastructure will benefit the environment as well as the people, he said.
“Pangangalagaan mo ang kalikasan, napakaimportante sa amin nuon kasi walang kwenta kung may trabaho ka ngayon pero masisisra ‘yung kalikasan 10, 20 years down the road. Sira ‘yung bansa, sira ‘yung planeta. Ang paniniwala namin walang negosyo at walang tranbaho sa isang patay na planeta (Care of nature is very important. It won’t even matter if you have a job today, then natures gets destroyed in 10 to 20 years down the road. There are no jobs or businesses on a dead planet.)” Garganera said.
Strengthening the tech industry and the implementation of the anti-age discrimination law were the most important points in Robredo’s jobs program for Catherine Christine Raposas who represented the IT BPO sector.
Raposas currently works in a BPO industry and for her, it would be a great advantage for the workers in the BPO industry if the government can increase internet speed nationwide because of the work from home set-up.
“If the workers can work close to their homes and their families, they’ll be happy workers and happy workers are productive workers,” Raposas said.
Robredo’s “Hanapbuhay Para Sa Lahat” program centers on bringing back trust in government, strengthening various industries in the country, ending work discrimination, giving support to small businesses, and supporting those who lost their jobs.
