FIRSTLY, on behalf of the Manila City Hall Reporters’ Association (MACHRA), we thank Senator Erwin Tulfo for having guested at the “MACHRA Balitaan” news forum, which we hold monthly at the Harbor View Restaurant in Ermita, Manila.
His very amiable chief of staff, Jerico Javier, said the MACHRA Balitaan was the first forum attended by the good Senator, and for this, we thank them both and are proud of this.
We also take great pride in seeing our former colleague Erwin secure a Senate seat — and not just any seat, as he impressively landed in the fourth spot, surpassing several seasoned political veterans. For that, he deserves our heartfelt congratulations.
During the forum, Erwin was asked to bare his priority list once he assumes office on June 30 as a first-timer member of the Senate.
He said that indigents, students, barangay workers, patients and media members are among those who stand to benefit from the priority measures that he has lined up and will work on introducing, as he vowed to hit the ground running.
The senator plans to tap agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) to implement a student emergency cash aid program, targeting college and senior high school students from provinces studying in Metro Manila.
He cited his own experience in understanding the challenges students face when parents are unable to send timely financial support for dorm fees, projects, or emergency trips home.
As a former media, Erwin said he also intends to dig into the status of the Magna Carta for tri-media workers and push for benefits, payment of retirement and decent pay, especially for correspondents, by giving them a basic allowance or salary.
He also vowed to push for giving back to the National Food Authority (NFA) the task of buying grains and rice and selling them at a price favorable to farmers, which he said can be done through government subsidy.
Touching on the universal health care law, he expressed commitment to push for an expansion of Philhealth coverage, saying the list of medical cases covered does not cover many kinds of emergencies. He said Philhealth must cover at least 50 percent of its members’ hospital bills, and they must also be accommodated and given rooms in private hospitals.
Another important move that we should expect from him is working for the inclusion of those from the middle class and lower middle class in the provision of “ayuda” from the government, noting that the AICS, 4PS, TUPAD and AKAP usually cover the indigents only.
It will be recalled that as a congressman, Erwin has already pitched the idea, stressing that the funds that go to the said programs come from the taxes that are remitted by those from the middle and lower middle classes, but are often left out of aid programs.
Erwin will also work on the standardization of salaries for barangay and health workers, addressing the large gap between urban and rural pay.
He lamented that some barangay tanods in far-flung areas get only P100 monthly, sometimes turning to illegal gambling roles just to make ends meet.
This is what happens when you have a media member in the Upper House. We have someone who can genuinely represent the masses, someone who truly knows and understands their plight, concerns and needs, having immersed himself in their world in his days as part of the legitimate working press.
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