Poe, Chiz court Cebuano students

CEBU, Philippines - Putting in place appropriate internship and boosting job placement programs were among the promises made by Senator Grace Poe as she and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero started courting the Cebuano students’ votes yesterday.

Poe and Escudero, who have already declared their intention to run for president and vice president, respectively, appeared before a forum of at least 2,000 students at the Asian College of Technology.

ACT is owned by Cebu City south district Representative Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa, who is a member of the Liberal Party.

Loud cheers and applause filled the ACT gymnasium when Escudero made his opening statement.

“Nagpunta kami rito para kayo ay magparating ng tanong o magbigay ng suhestyon. Tanungin ang kahit anumang bagay sa ilalim ng araw tungkol man sa inyong eskwelahan, sa syudad o lalawigan, sa inyong pamilya o guro, tungkol man sa pag-ibig… basta bawal tanungin kung merong forever ha.”

The “Face to Face Forum” gave the students the opportunity to ask the two aspiring leaders of the country on matters that concern the youth.

Poe said the national government should boost the business industry to provide more job opportunities to the youth.

Her plan, if elected president, is to ensure collaboration of academic institutions with government agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Trade and Industry to augment jobs placement programs.

She added that administrators of colleges and universities should likewise provide appropriate internship programs to their students.

Amid the hopelessness that some people think the country may no longer be saved from poverty, Poe remains confident that the Philippines will progress as a nation.

“The way to get out of poverty is to make sure that children get the proper education. That is why the right support for academic institution should be given. Dapat palawigin pa ang programa sa edukasyon, at financial na tulong para sa mga estudyante,” she said.

Poe said that corruption is one of the factors holding back the country’s progress. The neophyte senator seeking for a higher office in 2016 believes that the Freedom of Information bill is an effective tool to fight graft and corruption.

She said the passage of the FOI bill will be one of her priorities. According to her, the president’s determination to get a bill passed into law is a big factor.

Poe said that the FOI bill could have been President Benigno Aquino III’s legacy had he pushed for its approval in Congress.

“Malaking bagay ang determinasyon ng Pangulo kung may gustong ipasa na bill. Ito ang panahon na ipasa ito. Kung may FOI may sandalan ka na laban sa corruption,” Poe said.

Poe said that the people will know what’s going on in every government transaction.

Escudero supports Poe and assured that under her administration the FOI will be passed into law.

Escudero said that the FOI will play a vital role in the government’s drive to eliminate corruption.

“When combined with an iron-fist campaign, it will make a strong foundation to fight corruption which plagued many offices in the bureaucracy,” he said.  (FREEMAN)