Be discerning

Today, 30 October, is a meaningful day for Filipinos as we exercise our right to vote in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections. As we go to our voting precincts, let us remember that our right to suffrage comes with a great responsibility.

We have a responsibility to be discerning when choosing our candidates. Let us choose candidates who are competent and honest, who can serve with integrity, and who have the will and capacity to contribute to the development of their respective communities. Most importantly, choose barangay and SK officials who have a genuine heart for fellow Filipinos, particularly those who have less in life and need more government attention.

My advise to voters: "Piliin ang mga kandidatong tunay na nagmamahal at may malasakit sa kapwa Pilipino lalo na sa mga mahihirap at pinakanangangailangan (Choose the candidates who truly love and care about fellow Filipinos, especially the poor and the most needy)."

To those elected into office, I hope you will always prioritize the welfare of your constituents, especially the poor, the hopeless, and the helpless because this is the essence of public service. Remember that public office is a public trust. Do not waste the opportunity and the privilege to be able to serve your fellow Filipinos.

Being a barangay official is not easy, and I speak from personal experience, having worked with former president Rodrigo Duterte for a long time. When he was still mayor of Davao City, barangay officials have always been constant visitors in the city hall to raise constituents' concerns in hopes of addressing their everyday struggles.

Until now, as I go around the country, they are at the forefront of governance and the first responders to the needs of the people. I see in them an incomparable sense of fulfillment when they can help fellow Filipinos in their capacity. To promote good governance and bring public services closer to those in need, we must first strengthen and support our basic unit of government at the barangay level.

With this, I have filed Senate Bill No. 197 or the Magna Carta for Barangays because I recognize the critical role of barangay officials in delivering government services to those who need them most. Barangay officials may be given benefits like regular government employees if this proposal is passed into law. It also aims to allocate sufficient resources for improving public services at the barangay level.

While I am eager to equip our barangays and barangay officials with what they need so they can function efficiently and appropriately, I am also exerting efforts to act as their partners in bridging the gap between those at the grassroots and those at the national level.

Regardless of our position, we must work together to improve public service delivery at the grassroots, where the real situation of our people is evident. That is why I continue to go around the country to help barangays in need, listen to their concerns, support projects for the development of their communities, assist constituents facing hardships, especially when it comes to their health, and leave a smile on the faces of the poor and most vulnerable in their times of need.

We were in Davao del Norte on 24 October to inspect the completed multi-purpose building called "Bahay ni Maria" and also for the blessing and turnover of the Emergency Operations Center and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operation Center in Kapalong. We advocated for funding these projects before as vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance.

After this, we went straight to the Island Garden City of Samal and attended the Provincial Health Information Management Orientation for Barangay Health Workers, where we led the aid distribution to 201 BHWs. Another 250 BHWs had previously received similar assistance from my office on 23 October. We returned to the gathering on 25 October to help around 200 more BHWs.

Acknowledging the crucial role of BHWs in their communities, I also filed SBN 427, or the Barangay Health Workers Compensation Bill. If enacted into law, the proposal aims to grant BHWs a monthly honorarium and other benefits such as allowances, job security, consistent training, and opportunities for skill development.

Meanwhile, my office also provided separate assistance to disadvantaged laborers in various communities, such as 84 displaced workers in Batangas City with Brgy. Captain Emma Tumambing; 253 in Koronadal City, South Cotabato, along with Congressman Peter Miguel; 268 in Talitay, Maguindanao del Norte, with Mayor Sidik Amiril; and 1,049 from the towns of Duero, Loboc, Carmen, Batuan, Garcia Hernandez, Guindulman, Alicia, Anda, and Mabini in Bohol with Congresswoman Lexie Tutor, Duero Mayor Al Taculad, Loboc Mayor Raymond Jala, Guindulman Mayor Ben Balo, and Garcia Hernandez Mayor Filadelfo Jess Baja. These beneficiaries also qualified for temporary employment through the help of the Department of Labor and Employment.

We also assisted small business owners: 48 in Vigan City, 20 in Caoayan, Ilocos Sur; 54 in the town of Bangar and 124 in Luna, La Union; and 86 in Davao City who previously suffered from calamities and fire incidents. We also provided livelihood kits from a Department of Trade and Industry program that we advocated.

We also provided separate assistance to 23 residents of Quezon City who are still recovering from a fire incident. This is in addition to the assistance given by the National Housing Authority through a program that provides disaster victims with aid to buy materials like nails, corrugated iron sheets, and others to repair their homes.

My office also helped six families who were fire victims in Senator Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat.

After exercising our right to vote in the BSKE, let us take time to pray for our country and honor those who have passed away as we observe All Saints and All Souls Days. Let this be a time for reflection and healing while showing our compassion for the plight of our fellow Filipinos facing various challenges today. Let us serve God by serving those in need the best way we can.