MANILA, Philippines — Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday jokingly asked National Youth Commission (NYC) chairperson Ryan Enriquez if he is seeking an elected post after the latter earlier drew attention over a COVID-19 billboard campaign bearing his face.
“Nagulat lang yung mga senador kung anong tatakbuhan mo?” Marcos told Enriquez during the Senate hearing on the proposed budget of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
(The senators were just surprised, wondering if you are running for a post.)
The NYC is an attached agency of the DILG.
Enriquez said that he is not planning to run for any position.
Senator Sonny Angara, who was presiding over the hearing, asked Enriquez about his age.
“May 35 [years old] ka na ba Chairman Ryan?” Angara jested. To run for a Senate seat, a candidate needs to be at least 35 years old.
(Are you 35 years old?)
In response, Enriquez said: “Wala pa po [akong 35 years old].”
(Not yet.)
“Yun, so hindi ka tatakbong Senador?” Angara then said.
(There you go, so you’re not running for senator?)
Earlier, Marcos had asked Enriquez for updates on the NYC, including the billboard issue and the status of his quarrel with the employees association” regarding the complaints of abuse, usurpation of authority, violation of security and harassment.
Enriquez first responded on the issue concerning the commission’s employees association.
“Nagkaroon po kami ng initiative ni [DILG] Secretary [Eduardo] Año na makausap din po ng National Youth Commission Employees Association,” he added.
(There has been an initiative from myself and Secretary Año to talk with the National Youth Commission Employees Association.)
According to the NYC chair, he tried to meet with the association five times but to no avail.
“Gumawa na rin po ng position paper regarding po dun sa mga accusation po nila….regarding po sa kanilang comments or mga reklamo po nila,” he added.
(I already wrote a position paper regarding their accusation, regarding their comments and complaints.)
Marcos then asked him about the billboard that spurred criticism against Enriquez.
“Yung billboard nasagot mo na ‘di ba?” Marcos said. Early September, Enriquez apologized over the billboard and said that no public funds were used for it.
During the hearing, the NYC chair reiterated that the government did not spend putting up the said billboard.
More Facebook likes
Enriquez added that the billboard was also aimed at promoting the NYC.
The commission’s Facebook page garnered more likes because of the billboard, according to the NYC chair.
(We just wanted to promote the National Youth Commission because not many of our young people know about it.)
“So malaking bagay din po yung billboard kasi dumami din po yung mga Facebook likes namin,” he added.
(The billboard actually helped. We have more likes on Facebook now.) [ac]