Press Release
March 7, 2016

POE CHAMPIONED BILLS FOR POOR - SPOKESMAN

Partido Galing at Puso Spokesman Mayor Rex Gatchalian underscored that leading presidential aspirant Sen. Grace Poe has authored and co-authored significant laws that would benefit the poor, refuting unfounded claims by women members of a group calling themselves the Kapatiran ng Makabayang Kababaihan.

"It's sad and alarming that as the elections draw nearer and nearer, Senator Poe's critics continue to spew more and more lies and half-truths against her. On top of this, they have also resorted to creating fictitious organizations to serve as venom bearers. Their acts of desperation started with attacking Senator Poe's personal life - her citizenship and residency, now they have descended on what seems to be phase 2 of their attack script - questioning her performance in the Senate. There is absolutely no truth that Senator Poe did not perform her sworn duties. The Senate records stand as a witness to her accomplishments in the chamber. These records will bear her out and speak the truth that she has championed bills that provide solutions to every Filipino's daily woes. She has also decisively led investigations of key issues facing our country. Senator Poe will not be distracted by these low-handed attacks. She will continue to focus her campaign efforts on her advocacy, Gobyernong may Puso," Gatchalian said.

Poe has racked up an impressive list of accomplishments at the Senate. She has two laws under her belt, Republic Act 10639, otherwise known as the "Free Mobile Texts During Disasters Act"; and Republic Act 10640 which streamlines the "Three-Witness Rule" of the Dangerous Drugs Act governing the seizure and custody of drugs. She also co-authored six bills that became laws: R.A. 10635 (MARINA Act), R.A. 10644 (GO Negosyo Act), R.A. 10645 (Expanded Senior Citizens Act), R.A. 10653 (Income Tax Exemption of 13th Month Pay), R.A. 10654 (Amending the Fisheries Code) and R.A. 10659 (Sugarcane Industry Development Act).

Poe has authored/co-authored a total of 231 measures to date, addressing such issues as protection of the environment, human rights, children's welfare, gender sensitivity and non-discrimination, health workers' concerns, sound economy, business competitiveness, livelihood and employment.

She spearheaded the passage of the Freedom of Information bill in the Senate, which seeks to improve transparency and accountability in government by allowing Filipinos greater access to government records and transactions. When Congress resumes its session in May, the Filipino people can expect the Third Reading approval and eventual signing of the landmark law The New Anti-Carnapping Act of the Philippines, which addresses the increasing incidence of carnapping in the country, and the Closed-Caption System bill (Senate Bill No. 2239) which mandates TV networks to incorporate closed-captioning systems for the hearing impaired. Two of her bills are likewise in the advanced stages of legislation: the Film Tourism Act (SB 2271) which aims to promote the Philippines as a prime shooting destination for foreign films, and the Bill Strengthening Drug Rehabilitation (SB 2843), which allows drug rehabilitation as one of the options in the PhilHealth coverage that may be availed of by a member.

Among Poe's other notable measures are the "Sustansiya sa Batang Pilipino" Act (SB 79) which seeks to eradicate child malnutrition by establishing a national school-feeding program in all public schools; Corporate Farming Act (SB 2089) which seeks to improve agricultural productivity by providing incentives to farmers and cooperatives; and the "Tulong sa Kabataan sa Agrikultura" Act (SB 1282) which aims to encourage young people to go into farming by providing scholarships grants in agri-fisheries and related courses.

With the support of colleagues, Poe championed the initiative in the 2015 Budget Law for an institutionalized free lunch feeding program for public school kids nationwide to address malnutrition and produce able Filipinos, as contained in her Sustansya para sa Batang Pilipino bill.

About two million children in public schools will benefit from the government's P3.2-billion feeding program this school year, marking the first time the initiative will be carried out extensively - to include all nutritionally "severely wasted" and "wasted" pupils nationwide.

Poe has also filed Senate Bill 2755, which seeks to provide Filipino children full protection and support, especially from day one in the womb until they reach the age of two. Under the measure, mothers and children will be protected from malnutrition through a comprehensive health care program for pregnant and lactating women as well as the health and nutrition of children from conception to 1,000 days.

It was in the hearings on the issues of the MRT malfunctions and the Mamasapano incident that Poe showed her leadership qualities, presiding the hearings with objectivity and depth. She recently led an investigation into the nefarious activities of alleged drug lords in Iloilo City vis-a-vis the brazen attempt to curtail media freedom of Aksyon Radyo Iloilo.

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