Senate bets bat for Muslim prayer breaks, MSME support

Senatorial candidates continued their campaigns over the weekend, 50 days out from the May elections.

In Talavera, Nueva Ecija, Ben Tulfo on Sunday said he would push for the creation of the Department of Disaster and Emergency for a more prompt response during calamities. 

Currently, the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) is under the Office of Civil Defense, overseen by the Department of National Defense. 

Tulfo said he plans to revisit House Bill 8165 or the Department of Disaster Resi­lience Act, which was approved at committee level last November.

Meanwhile, the bill’s counterpart in the Senate is pending in the committee as of August 30, 2022.

“Para agaran ang pag responde agaran yung pagdating ng relief [So that there would prompt response and distribution of relief goods],” he said.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has also expressed support for the proposed measure. 

Prayer break for Muslims

In a statement, ACT CIS party-list Representative Erwin Tulfo, also running for Senate like his brother Ben, said he would propose a measure mandating prayer breaks for Muslim employees in workplaces.

“In Islam, our Muslim brothers and sisters need to pray five times a day. Two of these prayers, ‘Dhuhr,’ which is performed at midday, and ‘Asr,’ which takes place in the late afternoon, often coincide with working hours. These moments allow our Muslim brothers and sisters to show their faith in Allah and reflect on their spiritual life,” Erwin said.

The proposed measure aims to institutionalize two prayer breaks for Muslim workers in the public and private sectors. 

It will also mandate a designated prayer room or space where Muslim employees can pray.

Erwin said he would file the bill when the House Session resumes in June.

Support for MSMEs, farmers, traders

During a campaign stop at Baguio Public Market, labor leader Luke Espiritu said one of his platforms is to give support to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

For Espiritu, the government should give support to MSMEs by giving them capitals and loans without interest. 

“Mga kasama, ang ating dapat isipin, dapat nating magtayo ng gobyerno na meron pagtingin sa maliiit, hindi gobyerno na ang mga polisiya ay para sa mga bilyonaryo,” said Espiritu, who is also the president of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino. 

(Everyone, we should form a government that looks out for small businesses, not a government that supports billionaires.)

In La Trinidad, Benguet, Espiritu pointed out that local farmers end up discarding their harvests due to importation. 

“Walang rason kung bakit hindi ma-consume lahat ng ani ng mga magsasaka sa Benguet. Ngunit ang dami daming pinapalaganap ng mga gulay, mga pagkain, at bigas na galing sa ibang bansa,” Espritu said. 

(There is no reason for vegetables in Benguet to go to waste, but there are a lot of imported vegetables, food, and rice from other countries.)

Earlier this week, squash and bell peppers were left on the road in Bukidnon since they could not be sold and brought to Manila.

“Karapatan mabuhay at suportahan ng gobyerno ang hanapbuhay ng mga maliiit ng mga traders, magsasaka na nagtatanim ng gulay,” Espiritu said. 

(Small traders and vegetable farmers have the right to live and their livelihood has the right to be supported by the government.)

Other campaigns 

According to a statement on Sunday, Senator Lito Lapid cmapaigned with FPJ Panday Bayanihan party-list in Malvar Batangas on Saturday. 

"There would be no Lapid in the movies without FPJ. When I started to become a lead actor in movies, FPJ supported me. I starred in The Jess Lapid Story back then. Jess Lapid Sr. wouldn't be here without FPJ. That's why Lito Lapid, who is in front of you now, wouldn't be in politics if it weren't for FPJ," Lapid said.

Senator Grace Poe was also present during the campaign, along with her sister Lovi Poe and actor Coco Martin. 

Meanwhile, Senatorial candidate Jimmy Bondo held a motorcade in Muntinlupa City. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BM, GMA Integrated News

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