The Real Estate Volunteers and Urban Poor (REV UP) got a major boost in their all-out support to the candidacy of presidential aspirant Leni Robrero and Kiko Pangilinan for vice president of the Philippines in the upcoming May 9, 2022 elections.
This after hundreds of representatives from the Persons With Disability (PWD) sector have shifted allegiance to REV UP for Leni-Kiko during a two-day assembly at the Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion (CIC)-Mandaue Campus recently.
On the same occasion, over 500 leaders of the urban group across the province of Cebu have reiterated their full backing to the Leni-Kiko tandem, firmly believing that their brand of leadership and ideals are best suited in easing out the needs of the poor and marginalized sector.
That is in addition to the 200-strong member of the urban poor group who earlier pledged their support to Leni-Kiko in the hotly-anticipated polls four days from now.
“Kini nga event nahitabo tungod kay sa daghan nga mga konsultasyon nga atong gihimo uban sa urban poor, dunay mga nangutana kon duna bay programa si Leni ug si Kiko para sa mga PWDs,” said Nathaniel Chua, one of REV UP’s lead convenors.
“So mao to nga nag-invite mi sa uban ilabi na niadtong mga naa sa PWD sector. Atong gikuha ilang sentimento sa mga disadvantageous sector sa atong society ug diha nato nakita nga despite dunay balaod para sa ilaha, daghan gihapon kaayo ang wala mo-implementar niini.”
“Prior to to this, there were other urban poor groups that have already switched to Leni- Kiko. We hope that with the added support of the PWD sector that will surely trickle down to the rest of the poor and underprivileged in the society, those undecided voters will make a last minute shift and join the “mass exodus” towards a Leni-Kiko win,” Chua continued.
Emily Cabillada, a REV UP think tank, said Robredo is the right leader who can work for the best interest and welfare of the PWDs because such sector is very close to her heart.
“Robredo vows inclusivity, healthcare for persons with disability,” Cabillada shared. “Most importantly, the PWD sector is very close to VP Leni’s heart. Three of her family are genetically blind – her father-in-law, sister-in-law and brother-in-law. That is why she truly
understands the hardships the PWD goes through in our society where the landscape and policies are so unfriendly to them.”
“She vows, if elected, to push for the full implementation of the Accessibility Law, which requires buildings, institutions and public utilities to install facilities and devices for persons with disabilities, implement the mandatory health insurance membership for the PWDs; mandate local government units (LGUs) to designate PWD Affairs Offices, and push for anti-discrimination laws and targeted public employment programs,” added Cabillada.
Marilous Canizares, one of the prime movers of REV Up, said among the other programs of Robredo for the PWDs is transferring the supervision of the National Council on Disability Affairs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to the Office of the President, creating a comprehensive database on disabled people to aid policy implementation, and increasing civic participation of PWDs in local governance.
“I am happy in this advocacy with this disadvantaged sector because here, we work with our hearts and mind. I dream of a PWD community with people with disability, to have access to a home with accessible services to be able to live and work an independent life. Walay bayad ang damgo ingon pa nila,” said Canizares.
“We hope that with VP Leni’s leadership, lobbying with government to make changes that promote and protect the rights of people with disability be easier,” Canizares furthered.
That is the hopes of Chua too.
“Kami sa REV UP nagtoo nga mas sayon ang pag-implementar sa balaod alang sa mga PWDs kon modaog si Leni-Kiko. Dunay say proposal si VP Leni nga maghimo og PWD village. Ang gusto nato ma-integrate sila sa mainstream kay duna man gyuy mga lisud og kahimtang sa mga PWD. Kon matapok silang tanan sa usa ka community, sayon ug komportable sila sa ilang pagpamuyo. Kana nga sentimento sa mga PWD ug programa ni Leni nga nagtakdo, kami nagtoo nga sa sektor sa PWD, 90 porsiyento niini o mas taas pa moboto gyud ni Leni ug Kiko,” said Chua.
“Atong panghinaut labi na gyud kami nga naa sa real estate sector nga kon ugaling palaron modaog, ma-implementar ni VP Leni kadtong iyang mag programa labi na kining P50 billion housing for the poor. Kay kini gud ang housing, gawas nga matubag ang batakang panginahanglan sa mga pobre nga makabalay ug yuta, job creators ug job multiplier sad ni ang housing. Dako kaayo kini og ikatabang sa atoang ekonomikanhong paglambo.”
“Mao na ang nakalahi ni Leni sa ubang mga kandidato. Ang iyang programa nagatubag sa panginahanglan sa ordinaryong katawhang Pilipino. Mao nang malaumon mi nga paluyohan ug i-boto unta sa sektor nga among girepresentahan sila si Leni ug Kiko sa umaabot nga eleksiyon karong Mayo 9 kay sila ang klase sa mga lider nga motubag sa atoang mga panginahanglan, motrabaho sa labing maayong interes ug maglantaw alang sa kaayuhan sa mga kabus ug labing nanginahanglan,” Chua ended.
