Poe, Lapid vow to create livelihood for displaced fishermen

Reelectionist Senator Grace Poe holds a dialogue with some 250 fishermen displaced by Chinese incursion in the West Philippine Sea during her campaign sortie in Zambales on February 27, 2019. PHOTO by Joana Rose Aglibot/Inquirer Central Luzon

IBA, Zambales, Philippines — Reelectionist Senator Grace Poe said in a campaign sortie here on Wednesday that she would create more livelihood opportunities for fishers in the country.

Poe, a front-runner in this year’s midterm elections, met with some 250 fishers who were mostly displaced by the aggression of Chinese Coast Guard in the Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

Although running as an independent candidate, Poe is an adopted member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

She was joined by former Senator Lito Lapid, another senatorial candidate under the NPC, during the dialogue with the fisherfolk.

Senatorial aspirant and former Senator Lito Lapid during a campaign sortie in Zambales on February 27, 2019. PHOTO by Joanna Rose Aglibot/Inquirer Central Luzon.

Poe and Lapid also courted voters at a public market here in the morning.

Earlier, Poe led a forum with about 700 students of the President Ramon Magsaysay State University here.

At the forum, Poe said she would seek to pass bills that will benefit school children like the “Masustansyang Pagkain Para Sa Batang Pilipino Act” or Republic Act No. 11037, which she co-authored. /ee