Should he be entrusted with a Senate seat in May, former Senator and 2025 senatorial candidate Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson will reprise his role as the voice of the Filipino people in calling out and fighting corruption as well as other forms of wrongdoing.
While Lacson said he had already served as such a voice – oftentimes a lonely one – he stressed the need for all sectors such as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) to join him in making a lasting impact through their voice, all for a brighter future for Filipinos.
“I will continue to be your voice, no matter how small and insignificant to some of our countrymen, in fighting corruption in the government,” Lacson said in Filipino in his speech Tuesday afternoon before the first General Membership Meeting of the PCCI.
“Needless to say, I am sure that most, if not all of you would agree that taking up the mission of being such a voice is both a privilege and a great responsibility,” he added.
Related: Ping Lacson, Muling Magiging Boses vs Katiwalian sa Senado
He stressed that what is important is matching words with action or “walking the talk, carrying the weight of one’s convictions with consistency, no matter the pressure that may come our way” – the kind of governance he has long been advocating.
Lacson recalled that on March 11, 2003, he delivered a privilege speech against the pork barrel system titled “Living Without Pork.” His warning against the pork barrel system went unheeded for 10 years – until the pork barrel scandal involving Janet Lim-Napoles exploded in 2013.
During his lonely crusade against pork, Lacson was consistent in refusing his pork barrel allocations, making sure he proposed the last amendment in the yearly budget bill – to “return” his pork appropriation.
Aside from this, he was consistent as well in scrutinizing the national budget, calling out questionable appropriations, and realigning these to meaningful programs and activities.
Meanwhile, Lacson outlined his advocacies for the business sector, including protecting our Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that make up 99.5% of businesses and employs 66% of the labor force in the country – and the reason for one of the first laws he authored, the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007.
He also reiterated his push for the digitalization of government services, both at the national and local levels, to foster a more conducive environment for investment and job creation.
“Let us all continue to create a lasting impact through our voices, collective or individual – whether through small ripples or powerful waves, as we relentlessly pursue true progress and a brighter future for every Filipino,” he said in his speech.
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Ping Lacson, Muling Magiging Boses vs Katiwalian sa Senado
Kung sakaling pagkatiwalaan siya ng taumbayan at bigyan ng pwesto sa Senado sa Mayo, muling magiging boses laban sa katiwalian, at iba pang maling gawain si dating Senador and 2025 senatorial candidate Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson.
Bagama’t ipinunto ni Lacson na naging boses na siya laban sa katiwalian – kahit na madalas ay nag-iisa – kailangan ng lahat na sektor tulad ng Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) na gamitin din ang kanilang boses para sa mas maunlad at mabuting hinaharap para sa mga Pilipino.
“Ako pa rin ang magiging boses, no matter how small and insignificant to some of our countrymen upang labanan ang katiwalian sa pamahalaan,” ani Lacson sa talumpati niya ngayong Martes sa First General Membership Meeting ng PCCI.
“Needless to say, I am sure that most, if not all of you would agree that taking up the mission of being such a voice is both a privilege and a great responsibility,” dagdag niya.
Iginiit niya na ang mahalaga ay maitugma ang salita ng karampatang aksyon, kahit na malakas ang magiging kalaban. Ganito ang uri ng pamamahala na matagal na niyang isinusulong, aniya.
Naging boses laban sa pork barrel si Lacson nang nag-privilege speech siya sa Senado noong Marso 11, 2003 na “Living Without Pork.” Sa kabila nito, hindi pinakinggan ng kasamahan niya ang babala niya, hanggang sumabog ang pork barrel scandal na kinasasangkutan ni Janet Lim-Napoles noong 2013.
Sa 10 taong “lonely crusade” ni Lacson laban sa pork, naging consistent siya sa pagtanggi sa kanyang pork barrel allocations, at tiniyak niyang siya ang may huling amendment sa pambansang budget kung saan isinauli niya ang kanyang pork appropriation.
Bukod dito, consistent din si Lacson sa pagbusisi sa pambansang budget, kung saan binubuking niya ang kwestyonableng appropriations at nire-realign ito sa makabuluhang programa.
Samantala, nilatag ni Lacson ang kanyang adbokasiya para sa business sector, kabilang ang proteksyon para sa ating mga Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) na sakop ang 99.5% ng mga negosyo sa bansa at higit 66% ng ating labor force – at ang dahilan para sa isa sa unang batas na inakda niya, ang Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007.
Muli ring iginiit ni Lacson ang digitalization ng serbisyo ng gobyerno, sa pambansa at lokal na lebel, para ganahan ang negosyante na mamuhunan at lumikha ng trabaho dito sa Pilipinas.
“Let us all continue to create a lasting impact through our voices, collective or individual – whether through small ripples or powerful waves, as we relentlessly pursue true progress and a brighter future for every Filipino,” aniya.
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