Former senator and senatorial candidate Kiko Pangilinan brought his advocacies of food security and free breakfast program to Nueva Vizcaya during a campaign sortie there on Thursday, May 1. 

The former senator was warmly welcomed by incumbent local officials during a lunch meeting, as well as by market vendors and market-goers who he met at the Bayombong Public Market. 

In his meeting with incumbent local officials and some aspirants for local positions, Pangilinan shared that he has won in Nueva Vizcaya in the past three times that he ran as senator. 

“Lagi po ako nananalo dito sa Nueva Vizcaya. Sa tatlong beses po ako tumakbo, lagi nyo po ako pinagkakatiwalaan. At sana sa ikaapat na pagkakataon, pagkatiwalaan niyo po ako ulit,” he said. 

“Sa tatlong beses po kayo nagtiwala, binigay ang inyong matamis na oo, hindi po ako naging taksil. Ako po ay tiniyak yung tiwala niyo ay sagrado at sinusuklian ng tapat at totoo na panunungkulan. Sa tatlong termino, wala po kayo narinig ni minsan na ako ay nasangkot sa anumang kasong anomalya,” he added. 

With only nine days left to the campaign period, Pangilinan emphasized that his campaign is powered by his volunteers and supporters. 

And aside from his advocacy of food security, he also wants to prove that a candidate can win by fighting fairly. 

“Ako ay tumatakbo para don sa naniniwala na may pagasa pa ang Pilipinas. Ako’y tumatakbo para don sa naniniwala na maaaring manalo ang lumalaban ng patas, nang hindi kinakailangan gumastos ng bilyon-bilyon para maupo sa pwesto,” he said. 

The former senator, who was also the Aquino administration’s food security czar, promised to push for the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Act and his proposed “Libreng Almusal (Free Breakfast)” program if he wins in next month’s polls. 

The Sagip Saka Act is a law that allows the national and local governments to buy produce directly from farmers and fisherfolk without public bidding. Pangilinan is the principal author of the law that passed in 2019. 

In line with his landmark law, he is also proposing a “Libreng Almusal” program for kinder to senior high school students in public schools to help impoverished and underprivileged families, as well as boost the learning capacities of children.

Under his proposed program, half of the budget should be spent on procuring food from farmers and fisherfolk in the community. 

Pangilinan also reminded local public officials there of the power of their votes. 

“Kapag ang taong bayan ang tumataya, kinikilala ang kakayahan, nais ng tunay na serbisyo publiko, kapag tao na ang tumataya, walang kalaban-laban itong mga pulitikong trapo na nagpapayaman lang sa pwesto dahil taong bayan ang pinakamakapangyarihan sa araw ng halalan,” he said. 

Upon visiting Bayombong Public Market, the former senator took time to engage and even take selfies with the vendors and market-goers.