For Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, a vice presidential bet in the 2022 elections, the Philippines needs a fresh beginning.
This, Sotto said, is why he and Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who is running for president, are joining forces. He believes that what the country needs is a change of management, and a much better one at that.
If elected vice president, Sotto vowed that one of his priorities will focus on the development in the countryside and the needs of the people down to the grassroots by empowering them.
Sotto said that this can be done through a bottom-up budgeting scheme that will guarantee a Local Development Plan for each local government unit down to the barangay level.
Sotto said the program is called Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Reform (BRAVE), which aims to bring the money of the government down to the people.
“Kailangan na ang pera ng gobyerno ay nasa inyo, hindi pupweding manghihingi tayo don. Kailangan sa inyo at doon din manggaling ano ang mga kailangan niyo,” said Sotto as he addressed the crowd during his recent visit with Lacson in Bacolod City.
Under the program, each of the 82 provinces in the country will have an automatic budget allocation of P500 million, with P100 million for each of the 145 cities, P50 million each for the 1,493 municipalities, and P5 million each for the 42,046 barangays.
Sotto emphasized that they are seeking the support of the people because this program was conceptualized to really help those in the countryside.
“Kung ang natitira sa atin ay bukas, ano ang ibig sabihin ang bukas…para sa mahihina ang loob…para doon sa natatakot, ang ibig sabihin ng bukas ay hindi alam. Kay Senator Lacson at sa akin, ang ibig sabihin ng bukas ay pagkakataon na ibibigay namin sapagkat nakatayo kami sa katapatan, kakayahan, at katapangan,” Sotto said.
Meanwhile, Sotto said he is proud to share to Bacolodnons and Negrenses some of his accomplishments that have benefitted them. These include the measures creating the Patag Tourism Zone in Silay City, as well as the conversion of Sagay, Victorias, Kabankalan, and Talisay into cities.
“Narito po kami, ipinagyayabang ko ang mga nagawa ko para sa inyo because I always stand for what is good for the Filipino, what is good for the Filipino family,” said Sotto.
Citing his own family, Sotto also emphasized the importance of having a well-bonded family ties in having a strong country.
“Kilala niyo naman ako eh, kilala niyo mga kapatid ko, kilala niyo mga anak ko. Importante ang pamilya. Ganun din si Senator Lacson, buo ang aming pamilya. Talagang, ika nga eh, yun ang pinagmamalaki namin. Pagka maganda ang takbo ng pamilya mo, maganda ang takbo ng bansa. With a strong family, we will have a strong country,” he added.
The senator reiterated his other programs that will focus on eliminating drug abuse and illegal drugs.
“Sa Quezon City, napababa namin yan dahil doon sa aking program – supply reduction kasama yung demand reduction. Hindi pwedeng enforcement lang at prosecution, kailangan merong prevention and rehabilitation,” Sotto added. | NND
