Mitos: Education, health key to economic development

MANILA, Philippines - United Nationalist Alliance senatorial candidate Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay believes that investing in education and health is key to sustainable economic development.

This is because investing in education and health, she explained, will give Filipinos more opportunities in life, whether in careers, businesses, access to government services and protection of their rights.

For this reason, the representative of Zambales, who was voted Most Outstanding Congressman for six consecutive years, plans to create laws that will provide more scholarships to poor but deserving students and measures that will provide free skills training to the labor force and increase public access to health services.

“Health and education are the first to be given up by families whenever they lack money,” Magsaysay observed.

“We want to give our youth a chance to excel in their fields of interest through education so that after they get their diplomas, they will get gainful employment and in turn help their families. What the government gives to them, they will give back to their families and their families will return these to businesses when they purchase goods, etc. These businesses will then help the economy. It is a cycle, which begins in investing in our people,” she explained.

Magsaysay’s objectives have already materialized in Zambales. She was dubbed as “Congresswoman Libre” in her district for implementing programs providing health center, free laboratory testing, affordable rice, scholarships, and free skills training for over 10,000 beneficiaries.

Now that she is seeking a seat in the Senate, the graduate of Business Administration in the University of the Philippines believes that “the Zambales experience can be replicated throughout the country given proper legislation and equitable distribution of the budget.”

“We just have to open up opportunities for the people and give them access to the tools they need to become self sufficient and productive citizens,” she added.

Magsaysay, a mother of six, describes herself as a hands-on legislator and one of the few lawmakers who have the track record of putting words into action. She cites her advocacies and programs on consumer welfare, senior citizens benefits, and women and teachers’ welfare as her achievements.

“In order to have successful programs, it is important to involve our people, to mobilize them to do their part and contribute to the development of our country. This way, the government and the citizens are on the same page.

This increases the government’s chances of having more successful programs that truly address the need of the people whom it serves,” she said.

“I always like to listen to what my constituents say. They may seem trivial or parochial to many of our political leaders but these are what matters to them, these are what are important to them,” she added. “I draw inspiration from the people I serve and it gives much happiness whenever I see their lives improve because of my programs and legislation. I always challenge myself to be better every year.”

Magsaysay also believes that it is important to elect people who have the courage to speak out against harmful government policies even if it means going against the administration.

“An independent fiscalizer in the Senate with a good track record is important. We don’t want somebody who are afraid to speak out the truth because we’re supposed to be elected for service and to be the voice of the people,” she said.

“We all want somebody who can articulate the needs and wants of the people so we can shape policies that would best serve them because you pay our salaries,” she added.