Providing safe, comfortable life for all

Thousands trooped to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last New Year’s Day. Many were returning to wherever they work after spending the holidays with their families and friends. Some were our overseas Filipino workers catching their flights abroad in the hope of giving their families a better future. Many others were probably foreign tourists and potential investors exploring the country.

Yes, without an iota of doubt, NAIA is our country’s primary gateway — a gateway for our OFWs to a better life abroad and a gateway for foreigners to experience the Philippines.

That is why during the Senate Committee on Public Services hearing last 11 January, I manifested that the recent NAIA fiasco is a serious issue that could have had grave national security implications. It is unacceptable that critical elements of the country’s transportation system could just shut down due to a damaged circuit breaker.

What was merely a technical glitch caused so much embarrassment for our country and inconvenienced many travelers. Some OFWs faced the prospect of probably losing their jobs for being unable to return to their work on time. Ordinary travelers, particularly those who rely mostly on budget flights, were unnecessarily burdened with having to rebook their flights and probably shell out a few thousand more pesos.

Let us not allow our country to be put to shame due to human or technical error or worse, the incompetence of some. This has great implications not only for travel but also for tourism, the economy, and the lives of ordinary Filipinos. Let us work together to find out the truth about what went wrong, hold people accountable, and find solutions to ensure this will not happen again.

Let us not waste the efforts made by the Duterte administration in improving our transportation sector, among others. Let us also not waste the continuing efforts of the current Marcos administration in bringing in more investments in the country to help our economy recover and fulfill

“This year will define how we, as one nation and one people, will finally overcome this global health crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

our commitment to providing a safer and more comfortable life for all.

During the same hearing, I also called on law enforcement authorities to increase police visibility and aviation security while enhancing intelligence capabilities in NAIA and other airports following the removal of x-ray machines and scanners at departure entrances to promote a more seamless airport process among passengers.

Let me be clear that I support the decision of making things more convenient for passengers, especially amid the recent crisis we experienced. But it would also still be best that we remain vigilant of the possible threats around us. That is why I am reminding authorities to still implement necessary security protocols instead of x-ray scanners in departure areas. Maximize the police by increasing their visibility and enhancing intelligence capabilities to fully protect our citizens while valuing their convenience.

Apart from being vice chair of both the Senate Committees on Public Order and on National Defense, I am also from Davao City with our own share of terrorist attacks, particularly the 2003 bombings. In early March of that year, more than 20 people were killed and over a hundred others were injured after a bomb in a backpack exploded in the waiting area within the premises of the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in the city. So, while we are trying our best to make our travel more convenient, we must also ensure that sufficient security measures are always observed.

Meanwhile, in line with our commitment to continue assisting our kababayans in crises, my team aided 722 flood victims in Llorente, Eastern Samar on 11 January. On 13 January, my team also assisted 382 indigent residents in Libungan North Cotabato. On the same day, they also provided aid to fire victims in General Santos City.

Yesterday, I also attended the celebration of the international missionary day of the Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ headed by Apostle Arsenio Ferriol in Imus, Cavite. I thanked our religious sector for being partners in nation-building and in service of God and country who have dedicated their lives to spreading the message of love and hope to people in need all around the world. Like them, I also believe that service to our people is also service to God.

As I have promised before, as long as my time permits and I am still able to do so, I will always be there for our people, particularly those in most need of government interventions — the hopeless and the helpless, and those who have nowhere else to go to for support.

And, cognizant of the importance of addressing the healthcare needs of particularly those in far-flung areas, I will continue to support the establishment of Super Health Centers nationwide. Complementing the Malasakit Centers program that I initiated four years ago and which has assisted more than seven million Filipinos with their hospital bills, the Super Health Centers will bring basic government medical services closer to the doorsteps of the ordinary Filipinos who cannot afford to seek medical care in cities and more expensive private hospitals.

Previously, I pushed for funding for the establishment of 307 such centers under the 2022 national budget. I also pushed for additional funds under the 2023 national budget for our national government to construct more centers this year.

My fellow Filipinos, this year will define how we, as one nation and one people, will finally overcome this global health crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. It is, therefore, important that we keep united and rally behind our government in our collective goal of providing a safer and more comfortable life for all.

“What

was merely a technical glitch caused so much embarrassment for our country and inconvenienced many travelers.