Grace Poe woos FPJ’s fans in Senate reelection bid

Sen. Grace Poe. CATHY MIRANDA / INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Reelectionist Sen. Grace Poe on Monday said she was banking on the support of the fans and believers of her father, the late Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ).

In an ambush interview, Poe explained that she chose to campaign at the Obrero Public Market on Blumentritt Road in Manila because it was where the renowned Filipino actor shot his 1992 film “Dito sa Pitong Gatang.”

“Unang-una, dito kasi nag-shooting ang tatay ko noon. So parang kahit na hindi ko sila kilala nang personal, parang kilala ko na rin sila. Parang nagpapahiwatig lang din ako na, kasi umpisa ito ng kampanya, so binabalikan ko lang ‘yung mga ‘yun dahil ‘yun naman ang core supporters din natin, ‘yung mga nakadaupang-palad ni FPJ noon,” the senator told reporters.

“Dito niya ginawa ang pelikulang ‘Dito sa Pitong Gatang,’ so pamilyar na ito; at saka noong lumalaki ako, malapit dito ang San Lazaro, palagi akong nando’n kasama ng tatay ko,” she added. FPJ, a horseracing aficionado, kept a horse stable nearby San Lazaro when he was alive.

After going around the market, Poe said small-time market vendors needed to have stable and decent stalls with affordable rent, and should not be displaced amid attempts to modernize public markets and replace them with sprawling commercial centers.

“Unang-una, sa mga palengke, kailangan talaga ang maayos na puwesto para doon sa mga vendors. At hindi puwedeng gagawa tayo ng isang pribadong merkado na hindi sila maisasama. Dapat ang renta affordable, maayos, kasi hindi naman puwedeng itinatakwil sila porke’t may bagong marketplace,” she said.

The legislator also pointed out that the Social Security System (SSS) Rationalization Act, which President Rodrigo Duterte recently signed, would benefit the informal sectors, including vendors.

“‘Yung isang batas na kakapirma lang ng Presidente na itinulak rin natin, ang pagkakaroon ng inclusion ng informal sectors sa social security so kahit (self-employed) sila puwede silang mag-enroll sa social security. Tapos, ang provision na idinagdag ko do’n, kahit P5 or P10 a day, puwede na silang maisama,” Poe explained.

President Rodrigo Duterte recently signed the SSS Rationalization Act which would gradually increase the monthly contributions to 15 percent by 2025 from the current 11 percent. Contributions will increase to 12 percent this year. /cbb

READ: SSS to hike contribution rate to 12% in 2019 | New law to increase SSS contributions