Independent, Katipunan senatorial bets tackle national issues at forum

Independent senatorial aspirants and a candidate from the Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi party addressed key national issues ahead of the 2025 elections during the “Kapihan sa Eurotel” media forum on Tuesday.

MANIBELA president and senatorial hopeful Mar Valbuena highlighted the struggles of motorists amid rising fuel prices, calling on the government to suspend the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law to ease the burden on drivers.

“Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, pang-apat na pagtaas na ngayong taon. Pang-apat o pang-lima na. Sa jeepney na lang, sa UV express, ang nawawalang kita na po namin ay nasa P300. Araw-araw po ‘yan. Kawawa ang commuters, kawawa ang riders [kasi] dapat gobyerno ang gumagawa ng solusyon nito,” he said.

(If I’m not mistaken, this is the fourth or fifth fuel price increase this year. Jeepney and UV express drivers are losing around P300 daily. Commuters and riders are suffering—this is a problem the government should be solving.)

Valbuena also warned that the fare hike proposed by transport operators could lead to inflation, affecting the prices of essential goods.

“Hindi po ito ang solusyon. Hindi po solusyon ang taas pamasahe… Gusto namin maging balance lamang ang pamasahe,” he emphasized.

(Hiking fares is not the solution. What we need is a fair and balanced fare system.)

He further advocated for a just public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization, criticizing the depletion of the current modernization program’s funds.

“Hindi namin sinasabing ayaw namin ng modernization. Gusto natin, pero sana ‘yung makatwiran. Serbisyo sa tao ang dapat ibigay natin. Totoong modernisasyon, hindi korapsyon,” he asserted.

(We support modernization, but it must be fair. What we need is real modernization, not corruption.) 

Valbuena also underscored his dedication to defending the livelihood of jeepney drivers and transport workers.

“Kung titingnan natin, si Mar Valbuena ay isa lamang hamak na bumibiyahe sa kalsada. Pero kami ay kusang loob na nagseserbisyo sa bayan ng walang kapalit at walang hinihinling kapalit… Ipinagtanggol natin ang kabuhayan ng mga jeepney drivers at operators sa lahat ng manggagawa ng transport sector, sa lahat ng motorista,” he said.

(I’m just a humble driver on the road, but I serve the public without expecting anything in return. We are fighting for the rights of jeepney drivers, transport workers, and motorists.)

Minimum, living wage

Labor advocate Attorney Ernesto Arellano of the Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi pointed out the gap between the minimum wage and the living wage in the National Capital Region (NCR).

“Ang formal labor, sinasabi sa Saligang Batas living wage, pero ang minimum wage sa NCR ay higit na [P600]. Pero ang living wage ay P1,300. Nasa sistema [ang problema],” said Arellano.

(The Constitution mandates a living wage, yet the minimum wage in NCR is just over P600, while the actual living wage is P1,300. The problem lies in the system.)

He also criticized capitalist groups for opposing a proposed P200 legislated wage increase in the lower house.

“Mayroon lang pinalipad ng lower house na magkaroon ng legislated increase ng P200, nagreklamo na ang mga samahan ng kapitalista,” he said, adding that political dynasties controlling the economy have long resisted such reforms.

(The moment a P200 increase was proposed, capitalist groups immediately objected.)

 “Itong panahon, itong 2025 election, ay dapat umpisa na sagsagin ng instruktura ng ating pulitika at istruktura ng ating economy,” Arellano urged.

(This 2025 election should mark the beginning of dismantling the oppressive structures of our political and economic system.) 

Education

Meanwhile, independent Senate candidate Attorney Leandro Verceles stressed the importance of world-class education in addressing the country’s problems.

“Lahat ng nangyayari dito, lahat ng problema—ekonomiya, droga, krimen, korapsyon—sintomas lang yan ng isang bagay. Ano ‘yun? Walang access sa quality education ang Pilipino,” he argued.

(Everything—economic struggles, crime, corruption, even the drug problem—is just a symptom of one thing: the lack of access to quality education.)
 
Verceles underscored that improving the education system is the key to resolving many of the country’s long-standing issues.

Revillame campaign kickoff 

On Tuesday, television host Willie Revillame launched his midterm election campaign with the Galing sa Puso (GP) party-list in Lucena City in Quezon and Lipa, Batangas. 

Running as an independent, Revillame greeted the crowd at Barangay Ibabang Dupay in Lucena with his songs as several dancers joined him on stage.  

Like in the variety game show that he hosts, Revillame gave away jackets to some members of the crowd.  This time, however, he distributed blue jackets, instead of his trademark orange color.

“Kung papalarin na makaupo sa Senado, gagawa tayo ng paraan para makatulong sa kanila kung ano man ang kanilang kailangan (If given a seat in the Senate, I will find a way to helpthe people with whatever they need),” Revillame said in a video posted on Facebook before he arrived in Lucena City.— Jiselle Anne Casucian/Mariel Celine Serquina/DVM, GMA Integrated News

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