CHIZ: WE NEED SERIOUS PEOPLE TO SOLVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS

Highlighting poverty as public enemy number one, Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero said the country needed to unite behind a government that has the courage and compassion to provide what the people truly need.

"Seryoso po ang mga problema natin, at kailangan natin ng mga taong handa at seryoso para tugunan ang mga problema at suliraning ito," Escudero said in ABS-CBN's "Harapan ng Bise" debate.

"Handa po ako na gamitin ang aking karanasan para labanan ang kahirapan. Handa po ako gamitin anumang talino o talento mayroon ako para ipaglaban kayo. Para labanan ang katiwalian at manilbihan po bilang inyong ikalawang pangulo," the veteran lawmaker said.

Escudero, who is running with Sen. Grace Poe under the banner of "Gobyernong may Puso," said there will never be an end to criminality or secessionism until the government is able to address poverty.

"Habang mayroong tatay na hindi napapakain ang kanyang anak ng tatlong beses sa isang araw, habang mayroong nanay na hindi napag-aaral hanggang kolehiyo ang kanyang anak, habang mayroon pong pamilya na hindi kayang ipagamot ang mahal nila sa buhay, palagi pong may kakapit sa patalim, palaging may gagawa ng krimen at palaging may aakyat sa bundok," he said.

"Layunin po namin, tugunan ang ugat ng problema. Sa Gobyernong may Puso, ang kalaban po namin, kahirapan, public enemy number one po namin yan," he said.

Escudero reiterated their commitment to provide P300 billion or 10 percent of the national budget to help farmers and fisherfolk, which comprise the poorest sector in the country, and P12.4 billion to fund the education of indigents in state universities and colleges.

He also said they would allocate P1 trillion or one-third of the budget for Mindanao, which has 11 of the Philippines' 20 poorest provinces.

"Isang trilyon para sa Mindanao para po ang lupang pangako ay maging lupa na ng katuparan," Escudero promised.

He also bared for the first time their plan to allocate P100 billion for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), which will fund a new department and additional embassies to cater to OFWs' needs, increase the legal assistance fund for migrants, and pave the way for the creation of a pension fund for OFWs and the portability of their health insurance.

"Sabi po nila, masyado po yata kaming magastos sa Gobyernong may Puso. Hindi po gastos ang tingin namin dito. Ito po ay investment--investment sa ating kabataan, investment sa kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan, investment sa ating mga OFWs, investment sa ating mga magsasaka," Escudero said.