News Roundup 30 April 2022
Apr 30, 2022 • 4 min Read
Robredo bent on declaring PH education crisis if elected | INQUIRER.NET – Vice President Leni Robredo reiterated that declaring an educational crisis in the country will be among the first things she will do if elected president in the 2022 national elections. During a mini rally in the municipality on Saturday noon, Robredo was asked by a student leader and a private school teacher on her plans for the education sector — especially amid the growing number of out-of-school youth and the worsening quality of education. Robredo explained that it is necessary to declare an education crisis as the country is lagging in international assessments and worldwide rankings. “Isa sa mga una kong gagawin pag-upo bilang pangulo, mag-declare ng education crisis. Bakit kailangan natin mag-declare ng education crisis? Kasi po nakakahiya na tayo ngayon,” the Vice President told the crowd at the Lemery municipal hall. “Dati napakahusay ng ating kalidad ng edukasyon pero bago pa man nagpandemya, ‘yung mga international assessment bodies, lagi tayong last. Nakakahiya ‘yun,” she added. Robredo also lamented the small budget being allocated to the country’s education sector. She cited a United Nations (UN) recommendation to allocate at least 6 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to education. She notes that the education sector is now getting just 3 percent of the GDP. “Maraming dahilan kung bakit ganoon. Ang isang dahilan, napakababa ng budget natin for education. Ang international standards po na nire-recommend ng UN, mga 6% dapat ng GDP ‘yung budget sa education. Tayo po, 3% lang. So nasa kalahati lang tayo, ‘yun ‘yung number one,” Robredo said. Aside from that, Robredo also stressed that programs being promoted by government and the private sector might not be aligned with the needs of society.
Laguna lawmakers Dan Fernandez, Sol Aragones back Robredo’s presidential bid | PHILSTAR.COM – Two lawmakers representing Laguna have expressed support for the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo, who has the backing of opposition coalition 1 Sambayan. During the Laguna People’s Rally on Friday evening, Dan Fernandez (1st district) and Sol Aragones (3rd district) raised the hands of Robredo in support of her candidacy in the May 9 elections. “Madame President, kung saka sakali na kayo po magiging pangulo ng bansang Pilipinas, nais po namin sana na tulungan po ninyo ang mga nasa laylayan na ng lupa na tinatawag po natin ‘yung mga maliliit nating mangingisda, ‘yung ating pong magsasaka,” Fernandez said while Robredo was onstage. (“Madame President, if you ever become the president of the Philippines, we hope you will help those who are on the fringes like the small fishermen and farmers.”) He also made a “bold prediction” that “what has been done will be done again”, referring to the 2016 vice presidential elections where Robredo and her rival Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. were neck-to-neck for the position, with Robredo emerging as the victor. With around week left before the elections, Fernandez said they will need to work harder to catch up.
Diocese of Balanga to hold novena masses for May 9 election | Manila Bulletin – The Diocese of Balanga will hold novena masses from April 30 to May 8 to pray for the coming local and national elections. Holy masses will also be offered daily fot the different sectors involved in the May 9 polls. “The Diocese of Balanga will offer novena masses from April 30 to May 8 to implore our almighty God to guide us to do our duty according to His will and in observance of His commandments, for the good of those people entrusted to our care and for the sanctification and salvation of all,” said Balanga Bishop Ruperto C. Santos in a pastoral letter. “We are one with our provincial Commission on Election, the Philippine National Police and the Department of Education for a safe, peaceful, clean, honest, fair and free election. We assure them of our cooperation and collaboration. We offer our prayers, our participation for COMELEC re-orientation for electoral boards and assure them of our services and assistance through our Diocesan Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting for this National Election,” said Bishop Santos who is serving as the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Central Luzon PPCRV chairman. “This National Election 2022 is our sovereign right and duty. Our National Election is about our future and for our family. It is our judgment call on our political candidates. Thus we must take it seriously and truthfully. We must go out and vote. Vote for the praise and glory of God, for the good of our country, for the welfare and well-being of all, regardless of color, creed and custom,” the Church leader said. The prelate expressed his gratitude to those who have been working with the diocese for the success of the coming election.
