VICTORIAS CITY —President Ferdinand ”Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday underscored that solutions are what the country needs amid complicated times and not harsh words.
Marcos made the remark during the campaign rally of the senatorial candidates under Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas.
“Kailangan po natin sa napaka-komplikadong panahon na ito ay ang mga solusyon. Hindi po natin kailangan yung mga maiinit at maaanghang na salita na walang namang kinalaman para ikabubuti ng ating lipunan, sa ikabubuti ng ating kabuhayan,” Marcos said.
“Ang mga kandidato ng Alyansa ay kasama natin pagtataguyod ng interes at kapakanan ng bawat isang Pilipino,” he added.
Present during the campaign rally were former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, Makati City Mayor Abby Binay, Senator Pia Cayetano, Senator Lito Lapid, Senator Imee Marcos, Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Senator Francis Tolentino, former Senators Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo, and House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar.
Regional issues
During their visit to the province of Negros Occidental, the administration’s senatorial candidates vowed to amend the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 to protect small-scale fishermen.
Tolentino, Sotto, Abalos, and Villar underscored the urgent need to revise the law to ensure the protection of small fisherfolk and marine resources.
Sotto, principal author of the country’s Fisheries Code, emphasized the need to update the law based on current realities.
“We should amend the [Fisheries Code]. We can amend it based on what’s happening throughout the country, not only the area of Negros,” Sotto said.
Abalos noted that protecting the local fishing grounds should be a legislative priority.
“Even with a Supreme Court ruling, Congress and the Senate can still enact a law to address this. Para sa akin, dapat proteksyunan natin lalo na ang mga mangroves at ang mga blue crabs—alimasag in Tagalog—dahil kung hindi, mauubos nang husto ‘yan. [The municipal waters] must be clearly delineated,” Abalos said.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao highlighted the need to protect biodiversity and promote countryside development.
The boxing icon backed the Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridges project, citing its potential to boost economic growth and create jobs in the countryside.
“Part of economic development is improving transportation, and this bridge is a key infrastructure project that will accelerate progress. But at the same time, we must protect our environment,” he said. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
