Sen. Poe files 4 measures on first day of office

MANILA, Philippines - Poll topnotcher Sen. Grace Poe started her first day in office on Monday by filing measures focusing on students' nutrition, the film industry, overseas Filipino workers and coconut farmers.

Poe lined up at the Senate's Legislative Bills and Index Service to file her initial proposals, the first of which is a 'Sustansiya sa Batang Pilipino' program, which aims to institutionalize the provision of free nutritious food to school children in public schools.

Under the program, students in kindergarten and elementary would initially be provided free nutritious meals. Junior high school students would be included in the coverage on the third year of implementation while the high school students would be included by the fifth year.

“Hunger and malnutrition must be addressed, especially among children, now,” Poe said, citing estimates from the United Nations which noted that 6 million Filipino children are malnourished and around 66 percent under 6 years old do not have childcare.

Poe said that the Department of Education also noted that 562,262 public school pupils in kindergarten and elementary have been considered 'severely wasted' based on nutritional status as of August 31, 2012.

“Priority must be accorded to getting quality nutrition to prevent malnutrition to co-exist with diseases,” Poe said.

The new senator also proposed the promotion of the Philippines as a destination for international films in a bid to boost the country's tourism industry.

“Evidently, there is a need for government support to ultimately present various destinations in the Philippines as prime tourist spots. Through film tourism, tourist arrivals could exceed official targets,” Poe said, citing instances where the Philippines became the setting for reality television show 'Survivor' and the film 'Bourne Supremacy.'

Moreover, Poe also filed a resolution seeking an assessment of government policies regarding distressed migrant Filipino workers, in light of the recent sexual exploitation charges against government officials abroad.

"There is a need to re-examine the programs and various projects and interventions of the government on the issues confronted by overseas Filipino workers, including the direction that our embassies and consulates must adopt towards a friendlier approach. We should also look at the feasibility of engaging in bilateral agreements with host countries, with the intention of providing more protective and favorable treatment of our Kababayans,” she said.

Lastly, Poe also filed a measure urging the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food to conduct an inquiry into the plight of Filipino coconut farmers, taking into account the outbreak of scale insects, pestilence and weather disturbances which destroy coconut farms.

“The coconut industry impacts hugely on the Philippine economy. There is a need for the Senate to assess the state of this vital industry, taking into account the aging and dying of millions of coconut trees,” Poe said.

Poe became the surprise topnotcher of the recent senatorial elections, garnering more than 20 million votes to secure the top spot in the race. She previously held a position as chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.