1-Pacman vows topursue fight vs poverty

MANILA, Philippines — The 1-Pacman party-list group has vowed to pursue its fight for poverty alleviation in the country as it officially launches its campaign for reelection in Congress, where it filed about 800 measures, including 57 bills that had been enacted into laws.

1-Pacman Rep. Mikee Romero, deputy speaker of House of Representatives and head of the party-list bloc, said they intend to push for more laws that would further provide assistance to the poor and empower them through education and job creation.

“Our key advocacies of poverty alleviation, education and job creation will continue. We remain committed to these advocacies and make sure that more Filipinos will benefit from our legislative measures,” vowed Romero, who is running for a third term in the House.

The House leader said that 1-Pacman would continue with its partnership with various agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Health, Department of Education and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in providing programs for underprivileged Filipinos.

“As what we have been doing in the past two Congresses, we will continue to author and support legislation for job creation in the country so that every Filipino can live with dignity and comfortably and in order to ensure that there is a bright future for the people that we have helped with our poverty alleviation programs,” he stressed.

Romero said their group would also continue to support sports development in the country, one of their original advocacies.

“We recognize the unique power of sports in espousing camaraderie and uniting the Filipino people, and safeguarding our young from different kinds of vices,” he added.

1-Pacman has helped over 50,000 beneficiaries of its medical assistance program, 30,000 beneficiaries of its financial assistance program, 20,000 beneficiaries of its free education program and 1,250 children of its free heart surgery program.

1-Pacman was one of the top performing party-list groups in the 2019 elections where it secured two slots. Apart from Romero, the group is represented by Rep. Eric Pineda, chair of the House labor committee.