Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson and his running mate Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III are still fine-tuning their programs for good governance before going full blast in their respective national campaigns in the upcoming 2022 national elections.
In a recent interview with broadcast journalist Mike Abe, Lacson said he and his partner are not yet done presenting their proposed solutions to the most pressing problems plaguing our nation, as they plan to include more recommendations from the people they consulted in the grassroots.
“Because, you know, at the beginning we went around the country first to feel the pulse of our people. What are the problems on the ground, in the business community? We talked to everybody,” the former policeman-turned-veteran lawmaker said over DZAR radio.
“So, we consulted with the experts to determine what are the possible solutions to the problems we have consolidated from the ground. We built on that, which served as the basis for our initial platform, but that is not yet final. We are still fine-tuning it,” Lacson added.
Meanwhile, local farmers have pleaded for help defending their livelihoods amid challenges brought about by the pandemic and rampant agricultural smuggling, as they thanked the Lacson-Sotto tandem for shining a light on their plight.
The group of farmers from Benguet complained to Lacson and Sotto that it was as if their earnings were being stolen from them—by those who they were counting on to protect them from these threats.
They also said farmers contribute not only to the country’s economy, but also to ensuring the health of the nation through the fresh fruits and vegetables they provide for Filipinos daily.
At the outset, Lacson already mentioned that some of his priority programs would include his future-proof strategies to lift the nation out of its economic slump due to the COVID-19 pandemic, his ‘Education Plus’ agenda, building better defense for the West Philippine Sea, policy for digital governance, a more humane approach to the war on drugs, and other programs, to name a few.
Lacson also thanked professional journalists and media organizations, who are objectively presenting and communicating what he and Sotto are offering the electorate, especially now that the election season is heating up weeks before the start of the official campaign period on February 9.
The Partido Reporma chief said this helps him and his campaign team reach a lot more people since most of the time he and Sotto are focusing on meeting ordinary citizens and consulting with the experts to come up with more effective solutions to the ongoing problems of our nation.
“Hopefully, our messages could be communicated well that they would reach all our citizens, so they would understand (our programs). Because our situation right now is so difficult that it could not be explained in light conversations. Our problems are too heavy, Mike, that we can’t ignore them,” Lacson said.
Lacson and Sotto are hoping to restore public trust through good governance and more effective anti-corruption measures under their leadership. Their shared advocacies are anchored on the catchphrase “Aayusin ang Gobyerno, Uubusin ang Magnanakaw” (Fix the Government, Get Rid of the Thieves.
“Thank you, sir, for intervening [through the Senate hearing],” was the short but emotional statement of Agot Balanoy, manager of the Hi-Land Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative, as she expressed her gratitude on behalf of the vegetable growers to Lacson in Baguio City, which the presidential candidate visited recently.
Balanoy said the farmers now have hope of getting justice for the agricultural crimes committed against them because they know Lacson has made it a priority to watch over the sector and respond to their complaints, especially with the smuggling that is killing the local industry.
On his Facebook page, the longtime public servant posted #WalangNakawanNgKabuhayan (No Stealing of Livelihood) to uplift farmers and businessmen alike, who are still recovering from the debilitating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Let’s raise the dignity of our local farmers by patronizing and buying their products. Let’s help them so their livelihoods won’t be stolen from them,” Lacson said in his post.
In the recent Senate investigation, Lacson criticized the free flow of smuggled agricultural products into the country like strawberries, carrots, and the like, which are flooding local markets and artificially depressing prices, to the detriment of local farmers’ incomes.
This despite a gaggle of regulations and processes imposed by government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Customs on local growers, which are protecting foreign interests instead of Filipino livelihoods.
“It’s only proper that local products are the ones flooding the markets and being bought by Filipino consumers,” the former national police chief said.