Presidential candidates Vice President Jejomar Binay, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Sen. Grace Poe and former interior secretary Manuel Roxas II raise each others’ hands at the end of yesterday’s presidential debate. The photo is a screen grab from GMA 7 Youtube video.
Independent presidential candidate and Senator Grace Poe said on Sunday there is no proof that having a long experience as a public servant would make one best qualified for the presidency.
”There is no proof that if you have long experience, you are good. I think that among us, I might have the shortest experience but, as a mother, I can see the needs of a family,” Poe said during the first presidential debate held in Cagayan de Oro City.
Poe’s first-round critic, Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, belittled the experience of Poe, saying the country needs “not an OJT (on the job) president.”
”How will we be able to know if we are being flattered? For me, experience is the best qualification of a president,” Roxas said.
Poe, in response, said she investigated in the Senate the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DOTC), two government agencies that Roxas handled before announcing his presidential bid.
”I think, you do not need long experience to know what is lacking in the government’s assistance for our people and if the assistance is consistent,” Poe said.
In her short experience in the government, Poe led the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and got the highest number of votes of 20 million to earn a seat in the Senate where she led high-profile investigations and passed important measures, including the Freedom of Information Bill.
Under her stewardship, the FOI bill hurdled the Senate but not the House of Representative, prompting her to promise during the televised debate that, if elected, her first executive order will be about FOI.
Poe said her experience as a teacher, although belittled by an opponent, would also be helpful for her to become a successful leader of the country.
”It is because a teacher has the real concern and teach us what is right or wrong and on what to do on certain topics,” Poe said.
”I might be new, but our problems are no longer new and many have long experience but their solutions are all the same,” she said in her closing statement.
Poe said she will also push for free student lunch in public schools and subsidies for the poorest farmers. (PNA / Jelly f. Musico)
In her opening statement, Poe said the debates are the proper way to inform the public about their candidates and for the people to understand what they can do once elected in May 9 polls.
She said there are already experienced politicians who led the country but Mindanao remains poor despite having the best products, particularly pineapple and banana.
”What we need is leaders with true compassion, determination, fast action and immediate solutions,” Poe said.
If elected, Poe said 30 percent of the national budget should go to Mindanao for the immediate solution to development.
She also intends to improve the power supply for Mindanao by rehabilitation the hydro power plants – Angus and Pulangi in Mindanao.
On Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s being a womanizer, Poe said the mayor should “restraint a little bit.”
”All of us commit mistakes, because we’re just human, but I always give respect whoever you are — men or women, LGBT. All of us should respect each other,” Poe said.
On the poverty and development which turned out as the hottest issue during the presidential debate, Poe promised to use the untouched Php70-billion coco-levy fund to help save the dying coconut industry.
”Let’s remember that an average age of coconut tree is six years old. We need replanting. Let’s use the coconut levy fund for our coconut farmers. Create livelihood like coco coir, coco oil, coco water and whatever added value for our farmers,” Poe said.
To improve the agriculture sector, Poe pushed for agro-industrial zones wherein the Departments of Trade and Agriculture will jointly market the products of the farmers.
”Let’s have soil testing. What is the added value that we can do to their lands? How we can increase their income. Irrigation should be free,” Poe said.
On the issue of the South China Sea, Poe agreed with Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States should have been approved by the Senate. The Supreme Court has declared EDCA as legal.
Poe said the Philippines should talk with China “constructively but let’s take a leadership role in the ASEAN so that we can follow a particular Code of Conduct that will be followed by the other countries in the ASEAN.”
On the peace process, Poe said she wanted to have a transparent, inclusive and sustainable talks and agreement with all the groups and sectors – Moro rebels, Maguindanaoan, Tausug, Maranao, Badjao, Indigenous People, and Christians.
While talking peace, Poe said all the projects in Mindanao should be implemented, including the long proposal to build the Mindanao Rail project which, she said, would require P70 billion.
On Duterte’s federalism proposal, Poe said she is open into it if it would make the country better but she prefers ‘devolution of powers’ wherein local governments have prerogative to spend funds.
The Mindanao presidential debate is one of the three such debates organized by GMA Network and the Philippine Daily Inquirer in coordination with the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
The next two debates will be held in the Visayas and Luzon. (PNA Jelly F. Musico)
Tell us your thoughts on this article. If logged in with any of your Wordpress.com, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or registered on this site before, then you can simply write your comment below. Thanks and appreciate your feedback. Cancel reply
Sharing this much watched ‘WHAT IS A WOMAN’ documentary of conservative YT channel Daily Wire. On June 1, 2023, the documentary movie starring Matt Walsh of ‘What is a Woman’ was posted online via Twitter. In the first few hours of publication, the movie hit the proverbial stumbling block of […]
Her story resembles that of a script lifted direct from a tele-novela. This video is another installment in our continuing coverage of ordinary people sharing their experience during their married life. The resource speaker on this video supports the passage of the divorce bill in the Philippine congress. The speaker […]
Did regret came too late? A girl who transitioned to becoming a boy during teenage year speaks of great regret for having done so. Charlie Evans “became” male for close to ten years before making a turn-around from a decision made. Evans detransitioned in 2018. But will it recoup the […]
This is only a passing question for residents living around the City of Naga and also of towns nearby, and maybe of Camarines Sur province, too. Have you visited the Jesse Robredo museum yet? If not, then come on, let’s join Vice-President Leni Robredo show us around. The VPOP is […]
Canadians react with disdain on government officials, which include PM Justin Trudeau and Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, due to garbage dumping in the Philippines. Watch how independent conservative YouTube channel shares reaction and more below: [At 1:40, notice the government official sitting right of President Duterte make face, reacting to […]
Sharing here the attendance of Vice President Leni Robredo during the 121st Independence Day rites this morning at Rizal Park in Manila. And below is the commemorative message of the vice president for the occasion: Sa araw na ito, bilang nagkakaisang lahi, ipinagdiriwang natin ang ika-isangdaan at dalawampu’t isang taon […]
A short clip derived from a PBS (US tv channel) documentary highlights a woman acquiring a “sense of peace” after aborting her two (twin) babies. The woman was shown getting clear instruction from the doctor on the dosage and timing of taking “medical” abortion pills. The doctor was so blatant […]
The most important and relevant documentary movie drops today. Will it be truth bites the plight of mass migration hurting Europe? We are referring to the much awaited “Borderless” movie by independent Canadian activist-journalist Lauren Southern and her team. After months enduring the rigors (and danger) of (clandestine) location filming, […]
Some world leaders, and even the mainstream media, didn’t get it. But at least, Pope Francis on Easter Sunday speaking after the special Easter ‘Urbi et Orbi’ message and blessing, expressed his “heartfelt closeness to the Christian community [of Sri Lanka] wounded as it was gathered in prayer, and to […]
Daring independent journalist Lauren Southern is on the hot trail of the illegal immigration happening now in most of Europe. On this her latest reportage the daring Canadian exposes the alleged human smugglers and traffickers operating in Greece as NGO’s like the Emergency Response Center International. ERCI is a self-described […]
This should be the first walking tour for inmotion channel, I mean, a walking exploration. So here I was at the churchyard of the main Catholic church in my hometown which is the Parish church of Our Lady of La Porteria. Welcome to inMotion. And many thanks and appreciate for […]
Yes, totally true. The epic fails in Ilocos Norte. One of which was the “cable cart” ride which amused the passengers at first. Then afterwards lost the interest for the operator obviously had difficulty maneuvering the cart up its destination and back. But hey, it was a good try. The […]
Culled from the online news portal itself, Rappler reports agents from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested Rappler CEO and executive editor Maria Ressa early Wednesday evening, February 13. The arrest was done in connection with a cyber libel case filed by the justice department. NBI officers in civilian […]
This Philippine province of almost two million people, or 1.9 (1,952,544) million warm bodies according to the official census count of 2015 is the biggest in the Bicol region in terms of population and land area. While it is rich in natural resources and beautiful scenic places, majority of its […]
I am back, yet again, after a long hibernation of sorts. I fixed some personal issues, settled what should have been done before and still in the process of accepting and facing some other health circumstances that is part of life. And then I completely pushed aside into the backburner […]
After posting the article covering the much vaunted Pantao regional port located in Libon town of Albay province we dig a foot deeper and decided to go ahead with an update and rejoinder about the project. Envisioned to boost a “robust economic corridor in southern Luzon, specifically for Daet, Naga […]
Time magazine’s 2018 acknowledged person(s) of the year (POY) received mixed reaction from netizens. Before the end of year, the US-based news magazine picks a POY of their choice who has done the most to influence the events of the year. This 2018, it came out with not one, but […]
As many expected, former Philippine senator Bong Revilla on Friday was acquitted by the Sandiganbayan of the plunder case in relation to the misuse of P224 million pork barrel funds. Pork barrel funds were coated as Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of previous administrations. His co-accused, bussinesswoman Janet Lim Napoles […]
We get it. Bicolanos and travelers to and from the region will have to get used to flying and landing on four dated airports, one each in Legazpi, Pili (for Naga), Virac and Masbate. The one and only, but much vaunted, Bicol International Airport, or the Southern Luzon International Airport, […]
The domestic airport in Pili serving metropolitan Naga and the provinces of Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte will soon be capable of catering to evening flight take-off and landing operations. The Naga airport, which is operated by the Air transportation Office (ATO) of the Department of Transportation and Communications, has […]
To get a good grasp of the illegal immigrant crisis in the United States (America), and in Europe (European Union), we are sharing below two video coverage, one for each. These are different takes on the massive migrant caravan that began marching from Central America, mostly coming from Honduras, with […]
The town of Daraga in Albay province, has total assets of P1.029 billion making it to the top of the list among the richest municipal local government units (LGU) for 2017, besting 106 others in Bicol region, according to the Commission on Audit (COA). Daraga, aside from topping the list, […]
Ownership of the University of Nueva Caceres change hands. Kind of. For decades, the Hernandez family of Naga city and Libmanan town used to own and manage the first and largest university in Bicol. But not anymore as the education arm of the Ayala Corporation, the AC Education, Inc., (AEI) […]
Naga City, Bicol’s financial, business, educational and religious capital now has a total net worth of over P4.675 billion, making it the richest local government unit (LGU) in the region, according to the Commission on Audit (COA). The City of Ligao, in Albay province, followed far second, with a total […]
Why Fuentebella’s Partido Development Administration got the axe. The administration is cleaning up the mess of the past. Or, so it seems. Recently, Malacañang abolished a Bicol-based Government Owned or Controlled Corporation (GOCC) created during the administration of former president Fidel V. Ramos. The Partido Development Administration (PDA) was snapped […]
While I am not required to explain why I am using English as the medium or language of this channel, I am too happy to explain why. Also, I think it is time to share our reason. Hello friends, Thank you for dropping by and watching this post. At the […]
Today, I temporarily place under my drawer the primary concern of growing more subs. Because today we go Chinese. I mean, I will talk in passing about the Chinese Zodiac as very soon the Chinese New Year will come with a bang on Feb 16, 2018 and end on Feb […]
The Malacanang palace on Saturday made known an official denial it has got no hand in the subpoenas issued by the National Bureau of Investigation to online xocial news network publisher Rappler chief executive officer (CEO) Maria Ressa and two others over cybercrime raps, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on […]
President Rodrigo Duterte has designated Undersecretary Rosalina Bistoyong as Officer-In-Charge of the Department of Agrarian Reform. She will occupy the vacated post of Rafael Mariano whose nomination was rejected by the powerful joint congressional Commission on Appointments last September 6. Bistoyong is a career executive service professional in the government […]
The residence of Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog of Iloilo city on Thursday afternoon was the subject of initial inspection from a team of the National Bureau of Investigation.. Witness to the arrival of the inspection team include Ariel Castañeda, the head of the Local Economic Enterprise Office (LEEO) of the […]
My English classes in Grade Six will be the first set of pupils under the K-12 curriculum moving up to Grade 7 come March this school year. At this point, even while it is too early, I try to foresee the probable challenges and impact on their learning curve due […]
President Rodrigo Duterte’s blogger-supporter and now amply rewarded as Assistant Secretary in the office of Presidential Communication Operations Office has courted, again, the ire of netizens, specifically Twitter users. This time, tweets criss cross the internet calling for the ouster or removal of the former sexy dancer from her Malacanang […]
Thanks to the long known advocacy of the Greeenpeace group, the 4th Annual sky lantern flying activity in Legazpi city was eventually canceled by its organizers. The organizers of the 4th Annual sky lantern flying activity have decided today to cancel the event after it was met with strong opposition […]
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas wants you to know that it would be very difficult to produce a counterfeit of the new generation Philippine bank notes now in circulation. With the very stringent process, the bank note paper used made up of cotton with Philippine abaca, and all other security features […]
In its disclosure with the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Monday, the Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. (BDO) registered a P13.3-billion net income in the first half of 2017, much higher than the PHP11.7 billion in the same period in 2016. The leading unibank of the country traced the improvement of […]
MANILA, May 18 — The camp of vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. is set to ask the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to open the Automated Election System for a systems audit after uncovering irregularities while tabulating results of the May 9 elections based on the Certificates of […]
Senator Grace Poe said on Tuesday she felt disappointed with the decision of the Commission on Elections Second Division disqualifying her from running for president due to failure to meet the residency requirement in the Constitution. In her press statement, Poe said she will continue to fight particularly for the […]
LEGAZPI CITY, March 2 — Almost halfway through its construction phase, only then that a commercial building rising in the city center here is getting its building permit processed by the city engineering office. For months, works on the construction of structure attributed to as the Yashano Mall has been […]
MANILA, Jan. 4 — The proposal to move the opening of classes from June to either August or September has gained the attention of Malacanang. On Saturday, a palace spokesperson said that the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education are now studying the proposals. Deputy presidential spokesperson […]
What President Duterte Wants for Christmas from the USA, European Union and the UN? Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been busy and very generous, using his colorful loud mouth, at dispensing felicitations to the leaders and organizations of the world community. But instead of gaining more respect and stature, what […]
The execution of Overseas Filipino worker Jakatia Pawa in Kuwait reflects the general sorry state of cold treatment from the Philippine government these ‘heroes’ receive in return. Pawa’s execution by hanging was pushed through on Wednesday by the Kuwaiti government. The hapless OFW is the sister of Air Force Col. […]
Even with the impending eruption of Mayon volcano, there are tell tale signs that disaster tourism has positive economic benefits to the province of Albay and Legazpi city. The national government thru its various national agencies are pouring millions of pesos as ready funds to finance expenditures and purchases of […]
This is part two of the photo recap of the Penafrancia fluvial procession last Saturday. This is a photo-study of how people waited for the procession and the fluvial event in back yards, alleys, and every available space one can occupy to gaze at the passing venerated images of the Divino Rostro and the Virgin of Peñafrancia.
Seriously, Naga City-Camarines Sur needs an all-weather airport. Domestic airline passengers get a doze of frustration each time flights destined from Manila to Naga city and return get axed due to cancellation. But it makes more ironic when the cancellation was not caused by aircraft mechanical trouble but by sunset […]
So this is it. No more outright collection of airport terminal fee for OFWS beginning March of 2017. This is a minor news for Overseas Filipino Workers, if ever. Beginning March 2017, OFWs will get exemption from paying the P550 airport terminal fee. This was confirmed by Manila International Airport […]
This is just the tip of an iceberg in the Comelec’s readiness in the conduct of the May 9, 2016 elections. Less than sixteen days before the anticipated national polls, the Commission on Elections agency was confronted with ‘minor’ glitches in the highly anticipated tests of its system, at least […]
Pope Francis in Philadelphia, USA, offers Holy Mass concluding the World Meeting of Families 2015. This is the live stream coverage on Pope Francis presiding at celebration of Holy Mass which concludes the World Meeting of Families at Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, USA. Scheduled for Sep 27, 2015. Local […]
According to the 2015 rankings by the Global Peace Index among 162 countries worldwide, the Philippines is on the 141st. Hugging the bottom line is North Korea. A dismal result, and perhaps, the true prevailing state in the country under the stewardship of President Benigno S. Aquino, III, despite its […]
When a push become a shove into identifying and funding government projects, what matters most? Before the onset of the official campaign period of the midterm elections, the second engineering district office of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Camarines Sur started a road project in Calabanga. A […]
Named respondents in the complaint of serious illegal detention filed by former Iglesia Ni Cristo minister Isaias Samson failed to appear at the hearing of the Department of Justice on Friday. Only complainant Samson and the members of his family with their legal counsel Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles made it to […]
Sharing this much watched ‘WHAT IS A WOMAN’ documentary of conservative YT channel Daily Wire. On June 1, 2023, the documentary movie starring Matt Walsh of ‘What is a Woman’ was posted online via Twitter. In the first few hours of publication, the movie hit the proverbial stumbling block of […]
Easily, then, Bicol river is both the queen and mother of all rivers in southern Luzon due to its size and influence. It holds sway and impact on the fertile and floodplains of the provinces, dictating the state of economic well-being and status affecting thousands of lives of people- including farmers, fisherfolks, travellers, etc., around its sphere of natural terrain.
Even as I have discussed and recalled memories, stories and current events about Siruma, I kept missing one more place much nearer our residence and of my father’s hometown. In a way, it is my third hometown, though. I am referring to Bolaobalite, which immediately stirred a chord in my […]
The Philippine Coconut Authority is recommending the inter-cropping strategy to coconut farmers after the devastation brought by killer typhoon “Yolanda” in Samar and Leyte provinces. PCA Albay official Ed Bailon said inter-cropping should be introduced as an alternative income of the affected coco farmers while waiting for the total recovery […]
QUEZON CITY, Nov. 10 — The Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board (HRVCB) has clarified all possible claimants application has until 12:00 midnight of November 10, 2014 to file their paperworks in its main office at ISSI, UP Diliman, and including all regional desks. The assurance of Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez […]
Ex-President Fidel Ramos chides P-Noy on Mamasapano incident Former President Fivel V. Ramos sounded off a somewhat spicy message for President Aquino. “You must balance your actions with hot pursuit, this is law enforcement with peacemaking,” former President Fidel V. Ramos said in a speech during ceremonies in Intramuros marking […]
The Department of Labor and Employment said that about 13.90 per cent of Bicol employers do not comply with the current minimum wage rate as specified in Wage Order No. RBV-16 which stipulates P260.00 per day for establishments with more than 10 workers and P236.00 per day for those with […]
Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Occidental was gripped in fear when a man commandeered a passenger van in the airport compound and breached the main gate on Monday. Police identified the suspect as Victor Samban of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. Junal Andaya, the driver of the commandeered passenger van, said that the […]
Live Stream: Poe-Llamanzares Vs. Comelec 4rth Oral Arguments at SCOTP This is the fourth live stream coverage of the Poe-Llamanzares Vs. Comelec 4rth Oral Arguments G.R. No. 221697 from the Supreme Court of the Philippines (SCOTP). Follow the update on the disqualification case for the presidential run of Senator Grace […]
