Pia ready to help fulfill SONA dev't goals in Senate

Senator Pia S. Cayetano committed to carry out the legislative work necessary to fulfill President Rodrigo Duterte's vision for the country, as outlined in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

"The main message is really simple. The President wants a better and more comfortable life for the Filipinos," she told reporters in an ambush interview after the President addressed the joint session of Congress on Monday.

"I look forward to helping him see his dream for our country come true in the next three years," the returning senator added.

Several legislative items mentioned by the Chief Executive in his SONA already have counterparts filed in the Senate by the senator.

These include the measures creating a Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR); the National Land Use Policy Act; and the salary hike for public school teachers, which the President wants expanded to cover all government workers, including nurses, by introducing amendments to the Salary Standardization Law.

She described the President's call to lift six million Filipinos from poverty as his most daunting challenge to members of the House and Senate.

"Yun ang talagang pagtutuunan ko ng pansin. From education, to health, to livelihood, sa mga ikagaganda ng buhay ng mga vulnerable, lalo na 'yung mga senior citizens, may kapansanan, lahat po 'yun," she emphasized.

In line with these objectives, Cayetano has filed her version of 'Build, Build, Build' bills seeking to fast-track infrastructure requirements for public education and health services, respectively.

Meanwhile, Cayetano's proposed Education Roadmap Act seeks to align the skills and competencies of students with the evolving needs of industry to make our graduates globally competitive and job-ready.

The senator has also filed the Tulong Puhunan bill to assist the growth of the micro and small enterprises sector, the role of which was also cited in SONA.

Another measure mentioned by the President that has also been filed by Cayetano is the bill creating a National Academy of Sports for high school students.

The pronouncement, she said, reflects the President's regard for the welfare of the youth and laying the foundation for the future of Philippine sports.