Ex-foreign affairs exec courts Cebuanos for son

CEBU, Philippines - Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo is courting Cebuanos to vote for his son, Pasig City Representative Roman Romulo, who is running for senator under the Partido Galing at Puso ticket of Senators Grace Poe and Chiz Escudero.

The elder Romulo said he is confident that his son could help uplift the lives of Cebuanos particularly on attaining their higher education.

 “I believe his record in congress as chairman of the committee on higher and technical education is substantial. I think this is what should appeal to the Cebuano voters because this will benefit all,” he said when asked how his son could win the votes and hearts of Cebuanos.

The former secretary assured that his son will ensure that financial assistance is provided to poor but deserving students.

The young Romulo chairs the House committee on higher and technical education and was the principal author of the Republic Act 10687 or Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education Act (UNIFAST).

 The new legislation will enable a greater number of Filipino poor families to fulfill the dream of sending their children to college for free. The Filipino youth can also get scholarships, financial assistance or grants to achieve a good education.

 The UNIFAST law is an indispensable supplement to the Iskolar ng Bayan Act, which aims to acknowledge and reward the excellent performance of the top 10 graduates of the 8,000 public high schools nationwide through free tuition and miscellaneous fees upon enrolment in any of the 113 state universities and colleges in the country.

 Under the Iskolar ng Bayan Act, which Roman also authored, the top 10 high school graduates will enjoy free tuition and miscellaneous fees only for their first year in college.

These scholars will now be able to avail themselves of financial aid, loans or grants in their succeeding college years through the UNIFAST law.

 Aside from funds for scholarships and financial aid to students, Income tax cuts and Freedom of Information would be among his priorities in the next Congress.

 The Pasig lawmaker earlier said if elected to the Senate, he would also focus on legislating measures that would strengthen the country’s infrastructure and capacity of vulnerable communities to adapt to climate change; ensure the protection of OFWs and enhance their welfare; and increase food support for public school children.

 “These are interventions required of government so that no one is left behind as we bridge the gap between the rich and the poor in this country,” Romulo said. — (FREEMAN)