Former senator and senatorial candidate Kiko Pangilinan is confident that “last-minute” votes will bring him to the Senate in the coming May 12 elections. 

Speaking to showbiz reporters on the sidelines of a press conference in Quezon City organized by Regal Entertainment’s Monteverde family on Monday, May 5, the former senator expressed optimism that his track record and experience will deliver him the votes. 

“Focus lang tayo… present our advocacies, focus lang hanggang sa dulo, tuloy-tuloy lang,” he said. 

“We can feel sa baba ang ating mga kababayan kasi madami last minute kung mag-decide. Ngayon, ang last minute nararamdaman natin. Ang tao mas sineseryoso na ang pagbusisi at ngayon, we are optimistic that kapag tiningnan nila ang ating track record eh syempre, tayo masasabi nila walang bahid ng kurakot at madaming batas na naipasa at tayo’y karapat-dapat,” he added. 

Pangilinan shared about his advocacy of food security and his proposed “Libreng Almusal” program. 

Under food security, the former senator plans to push for the full implementation of his Sagip Saka Act to better empower and capacitate farmers and fisherfolk. 

When better equipped and supported with government funding, farmers and fisherfolk would be able to increase their harvest and catch, which meant more food supply in markets. 

This law, the former senator explained, is also aligned with another proposal—the Libreng Almusal program—to help underprivileged Filipino students finish their education through school-provided meals. 

“Kapag busog ang ating mga anak, mas nananatili silang nag-aaral, mas maganda ang kanilang natututunan,” he said.