MANILA, Philippines - As he is with acting, first-termer Rep. Alfred Vargas (photo) of the newly-created District 5 of Quezon City takes his job as public servant to heart. In his first year in officer, he has submitted 85 principally authored and co-authored bills. In his recent first Congressional Report to the District, attended by over 1,200 people, Alfred shared that five of the 10 landmark bills passed by the Lower House on its first regular session, was proposed by him along with other colleagues. These include the mandatory PhilHealth coverage for all senior citizens, the unified student financial assistance system, national land use and management, the creation of special education centers in every public school division and the recently enacted Go Negosyo Act.
Alfred also filed a resolution mandating the establishment of a passport issuance office in Novaliches, which will begin operations in the fourth quarter of this year.
“I focused on the basics,” said Alfred, “livelihood, housing and education. Of course, two of my advocacies include the senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).”
Alfred said he is still pushing for the Lower House’s approval of his pending measures, including the creation of national high schools in the five barangays in his district as well as the establishment of the Novaliches State University. Creating a national cancer institute, institutionalizing a mechanism to prevent teenage pregnancy, granting of benefits to OFWs, banning the detention of cadavers in hospitals and funerals, and promoting local arts and entertainment industry, and providing for a mass transport system in District 5 are also some of Alfred’s legislative agenda.