A GROUP of Negrenses who are associated with the Magdalo group launched the “Gary Alejano for Senator” movement in hope that Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano, a Negrense himself, will seek a sensorial bid.
In a press conference Friday, May 4, at the Negros Press Club office in Bacolod City, Bernaldo Eres, convenor of the movement, launched their campaign as the Negrense lawmaker consistently served as the voice of the people, being an opposition congressman.
"We take pride that Congressman Alejano has his roots in Sipalay, Negros Occidental. He could be a political champion for us, as Negros is hungry for a senator. He belongs to us and he could be a good material to represent our cultural heritage as a Negrense. The last Congressman we sent to the Senate in 1935 was former congressman Locsin of Silay. Therefore, we challenge Congressman Gary to consider the position of running for the Senate of the Philippines," he said.
They said that the people have suffered much.
In the survey taken from March 23 to 28, some basic concerns came out very strongly such as wages, prices, poverty, and jobs.
Fifty percent of the respondents spoke on the issue of wages; 45 percent on the high prices of commodities; 35% on poverty reduction and 32% on job generation.
"We felt sad for the situation faced by our people today. The vulnerable sectors include the women, children, persons with disabilities. They are the ones who are affected by daily life struggles,” the group said.
"Where do we go from here? As volunteers of Cong. Alejano, we expressed our deep concern for the plight of the vulnerable sector especially the poor due to the social realities that are beyond their control," Eres said.
Social concerns scored
He said a great number of the people in Negros are working class. Their income is mostly spent on food. The poor is always the victim of the social malady because they are hostage by the cycle of poverty.
Also, he said many were surprised with the sudden price increase for the basic commodities. “Cost of rice increased since the last few months. In some countries, their citizens have enjoyed buying cheaper foods. But in the Philippines, we get low wages and spent most of our income to buy food. There is no balance between income and spending.”
He also mentioned that poverty remained to be a top concern in the country. “People nowadays become familiar and comfortable with poverty. Amidst the impoverished situation, the poor can still afford to smile. But we have already lost the title as the happiest people in the world. It appears that poverty has already hurt our people so much.”
“How do we measure our poverty index? One social analyst argued that the more people attend to the Feast of Black Nazarene, the more it becomes a true indicator for a high poverty incidence as being encountered by the ordinary people. Their source of hope to be liberated from the bondage of poverty may be attributed to God alone. So that the encounter of the Black Nazarene, even how difficult it is to be there, has provided them a sense of relief,” he said.
Also, he stressed that many people are jobless. “If they don't have work, they starve for their life. When people face the worst situation, they engage in ‘kapit sa patalim’ which means they can even resort to illegal activities. It is a cycle of the economy when people are down. Expect that the crimes become rampant in the community.”
He added the primary duty of the government to the governed is to provide them with more job opportunities. If failed to do so, then the social contract between the government and the people in tainted with blood.
“With all these concerns, we seek someone to carry out the torch of a political champion who will be at the forefront of our advocacy work on good governance, human rights, environment, urban poor, health, education, youth and national security,” Eres said.