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WHY AM I VOTING FOR SENATOR JINGGOY ESTRADA?
Posted: May 9th, 2010 @ 12:49pm
It is not hard to imagine that Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, being the eldest son of President Joseph Marcelo Ejercito Estrada and Senator Luisa Pimentel Ejercito Estrada who are best known for their pro-poor advocacies, chose to represent and stand up for the poor and the marginalized in the Upper Chamber of Congress. It is for this reason that Jinggoy earned the distinction of being called the “Anak ng Masa.”
Senator Estrada finished his primary and secondary education at Ateneo de Manila University and earned a degree in A.B. Economics from the University of the Philippines. He took up Bachelor of Laws for four years at the Lyceum of the Philippines while serving as Vice Mayor of then Municipality of San Juan at a young age of 25. He was also bestowed Doctorate in Humanities (Honoris Causa) in 2007 by the Laguna State University in recognition of his academic excellence and socio-civic achievements as public servant.
In 1992, he became the youngest ever elected local chief executive in the entire nation at age 29. For three consecutive terms, he administered the economic, social, political and cultural affairs of San Juan beyond everyone’s expectations. During his incumbency, San Juan gained the reputation of being one of the most progressive municipalities and the Most Peaceful Municipality in the Philippines.
During his final tenure as Mayor, he was sworn into office as the National President of the 1,525 member municipalities of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) from 1998 to 2001, where he harnessed the potential of local government units as reliable partner of the national government in nation-building.
In May 2004, the Filipinos gave him an official mandate to serve as Senator of the Republic of the Philippines (2004-2010) to realize his vision of improved welfare systems and better public services for the masses through good governance. During his first term as Senator, Jinggoy translated his experience and solid background as a local chief executive into becoming one of the most prolific and productive legislators of the country; introducing at least 617 bills and resolutions and steering the passage of at least 16 bills either as principal sponsor or principal author.
Among his more noteworthy pieces of legislation where he was either author or co-author that were passed into law include: Rationalizing the Composition and Functions of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), Strengthening the Regulatory Functions of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Strengthening the Workers’ Constitutional Right to Self-Organization, Strengthening and Expanding the Coverage of the Special Program for the Employment of Students, Securing the State and Protecting the People from Terrorism, Strengthening the University of the Philippines as a National University, Declaring a National Policy as an Engine for Investment, Employment, Growth and National Development, Establishing a Socialized and Low-Cost Housing Loan and Restructuring and Condonation Program, Magna Carta for Women, Strengthening the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), Magna Carta for Small Enterprises, Promoting Environmental Awareness through Environment Education, Promoting Development, Utilization and Commercialization of Renewable Energy Resources.
Other proposed laws drafted by Senator Jinggoy Estrada intend to provide added protection to media practitioners and to safeguard the rights and privileges of the “fourth estate,” to establish effective support services for our migrant laborers, to empower local governments through fiscal autonomy and devolution down to the barangay level, to implement tax reforms, to institute modernization measures at the Philippine National Police, to address worsening human rights abuses and involuntary disappearances, and to widen access to quality higher education.
Topping this feat is his election by his esteemed colleagues to the second highest position in the Senate by becoming the most junior and youngest Senate President Pro Tempore who ever assumed the post.
Senator Estrada also took the helm of the sensitive Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development and of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Labor and Employment on a concurrent capacity, which is tasked with the study and deliberations on measures relating to labor; human resources development; maintenance of industrial peace; promotion of employer-employee cooperation; labor education; standards and statistics; organization of the labor market including recruitment, training and placement of workers and exports of human resources; foreign workers in the Philippines; promotion and development of workers’ organization as well as employment-intensive technology.
Senator Estrada will also be remembered throughout the entire history of the Philippine Senate as one of those who chalked up perfect attendance during the 13th Congress until the First Regular Session of the 14th Congress, a rare achievement accomplished only by very few lawmakers.
Proving himself to be more than a parliamentarian, Senator Estrada opened his office and explored more avenues to offer public service to his constituents, like legal counseling, medical subsidies and scholarship grants. This same intention of extending assistance and reaching out to the masses encouraged him to start a public service radio program, aptly called “Boses ng Masa” which was heard nationwide over DZRH-AM Radio in 2009.
Previously, Senator Estrada also hosted the television show “SaBAYAN” and its AM radio counterpart (aired over DZXI) of the same title which have helped a number of Filipinos through significant exposés. During his stint as San Juan Municipal Mayor and head of LMP, he headlined the DZXL-RMN radio program “Mayors in Action” featuring local government prospects and problems.
His commitment to reviving the movie industry prompted the Senator to produce and to star in the critically-acclaimed Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Katas ng Saudi” highlighting the plight of the overseas Filipino workers. He bagged three Best Actor trophies for his sterling performance as a returning contract worker from Saudi Arabia trying to rekindle lost affection from his family.
His pledge to breathe life into a dying Pinoy filmmaking motivated the Senator to criticize starting with a strongly-worded privilege speech the continuing misuse of MMFF proceeds to the detriment of movie workers’ welfare organization and film development agencies.
Senator Estrada delivered more than twenty privileges speeches on varied topics such as the constitutionally-guaranteed freedom of speech and expression, right to public assembly, anomalous transactions and operations in Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), abduction of NBN-ZTE whistleblower, a call to conscience of former agriculture department official who figured at the center of fertilizer fund scam, wiretapping scandal, and presenting a true state of the nation contrary to the claims of the current oppressive administration.
Presently, Senator Jinggoy Estrada is very much focused in keeping his commitment to the Filipino masa to do his best as a legislator and as a public servant in securing a future far better than what we are all made to contend with today.
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