ROXAS GRATEFUL FOR PEOPLES TRUST
Cites need to solve peoples concerns, restore trust in gov't institutions

Senator Mar Roxas, also popularly known as Mr. Palengke, expressed gratitude to the public for the high trust rating he received as shown in a recent Pulse Asia pre-election survey on trust ratings of selected public figures and groups.

I am deeply gratified to be included in the top five leaders with majority trust ratings. I am humbled and inspired by the results of this survey especially since its been three years since I first ran for the Senate, Roxas said. The senator holds the record as the national candidate elected into office with the most number of votes. Roxas made it as number one senator in 2004 with nearly 20 million votes.

Roxas got a 52-percent trust rating, consistent with similar surveys in the past where the people also accorded him very high trust ratings.

Except for Roxas, other legislatorsall of whom are running again for Congresswere among those given the highest trust ratings: former Senator Loren Legarda, who bagged the highest at 63 percent, followed by Senate President Manuel Villar, Senate Majority Leader Francis Kiko Pangilinan and House Minority Floor Leader Francis Chiz Escudero.

After the May polls, Roxas said, there must be a meeting of minds among all winners, regardless of party affiliations, on the critical importance of attending to the peoples real life problems while restoring public trust in government institutions.

Our peoples real concerns such as the deterioration of our educational system, too much corruption, widespread hunger, high costs of medicines and health care as well as rising unemployment and underemployment rates must be the focus of collective action once the elections are over, Roxas said.

According to Roxas, the upcoming elections are crucial to stabilize the political terrain on which our society stands, and to prevent the further shredding of the social fabric that holds our people together.

Credible and honest elections would lead to a more stable political environment and fresh winds of hope for the countrys future. However, the reverse is also true and we must all be vigilant against election fraud and other anomalies, Roxas said.