FILE PHOTO: Senator Joel Villanueva. (Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Joel Villanueva kicked off his reelection campaign on Tuesday, pledging to pursue his advocacy of adequate and quality employment for Filipinos.
“Sa unang araw na ito ng kampanya, nakikita ng aking dalawang mata at nararamdaman ng aking buong katawan, na hindi ako nag-iisa sapagkat kasama ko kayo. Sama-sama po nating trabahuhin ang trabaho sa mahal nating Pilipinas,” Villanueva said in a video posted on Facebook.
(On the first day of my campaign, I saw with my own two eyes and my body feels that I am not alone because I am with you. Let us work on the job in our country.)
The lawmaker noted that presidential and vice-presidential candidates included jobs and employment in their platforms. Hence, stressing that his agenda should continue in the upper chamber of Congress.
LOOK: Re-electionist Sen. Joel Villanueva visits the grave of his mother, Adoracion, and sister, late Bocaue Mayor Joni, ahead of his senatorial campaign kick-off today. (📷Sen. Villanueva’s FB) | @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/lgi92MDvDp
— Christia Ramos (@CMRamosINQ) February 8, 2022
“Bagaman magkakaiba ang kanilang mga posisyon sa pulitika, meron po silang common denominator: kailangan si TESDAMAN sa Senado,” said Villanueva, the former director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).
(While their political positions are different, they have a common denominator: Tesdaman is needed in the Senate.)
READ: Villanueva: Over 200,000 TESDA scholarship slots for 2021 still unused
Villanueva registered a perfect attendance in Senate sessions and filed more than 500 bills and resolutions, including those that address workers’ welfare.
READ: Villanueva seeks to institutionalize Tesda reforms in Senate
He said that he wanted to continue being a senator to ensure that the measures he passed would be properly implemented.
“Ang mga naipasa nating batas, dapat nai-implement nang maayos. Dapat napopondohan nang maayos. Dapat nakikinabang ang ating mga kababayan,” he said.
(The laws we have passed must be implemented properly. It should be funded well and benefit our people.)
As part of his reelection campaign platform, Villanueva is pushing the institutionalization and strengthening of policies like unemployment insurance, National Employment Recovery Strategy, and the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers Emergency Employment Program, among others.
Villanueva is seeking a second term as a senator and is running as an independent candidate.
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