Bro. Eddie vows to file 33 landmark bills if elected

MANILA, Philippines - Senatorial bet Eddie Villanueva on Monday said he will seek to pass 33 landmark measures if he is elected, adding that on top of his agenda is the filing of a bill to penalize agencies that fail to implement "good laws."

In an interview, Villanueva said there is no dearth of good laws, but the government agencies and employees fail to implement them.

"I will form a small group to review antiquated laws and  to enact a special law to remove the long-time problem of non-implementation of good laws in the the country. Bakit ang daming magagandang batas hindi naiimplement? So I will  study the possibility of sponsoring a special law to penalize agencies and personalities responsible for non-implementation of good laws that should have benefited the country," he said.

Villanueva cited laws such as the Anti Red Tape Law,  as well as the measure that mandates the government to allocate 6 percent of the country's incomes to health and education expenses as prescribed by Millenium Development Goals as among laws that have been neglected. He added some agencies implement the Anti Red Tape Law, while others do not.

"Madami akong mahahalungkat doon sa Senado, kasi wala akong personal agenda at ipahihiram ko lang ang anim na taon ng buhay ko," he said.

Other priorities are bills to ensure the welfare of overseas Filipino workers,  help the senior citizens to be productive even in their old age and to boost the country's tourism industry.

"My model is Thailand, they have 20 million tourists a year, while we only have more or less 3 million tourists. The foreigners won't extract our resources, and our minerals. They will only take good pictures of the Philippines and take home souvenirs of exportable products," Villanueva said.

He also said the government should prioritize the development of the country's steel industry and to improve the competitiveness of the country's source of power.

"We also need scientists to guide the industrialization of the Philippines," Villanueva said.

The country's wealthy should also be given the heavier burden in the nation-building.

"If economic security demands increase, if just,  fair, economic security demands it , then I will also support the wage hike," he added. Villanueva also expressed support to the Freedom of Information bill, calling it an essential law to fight graft and corruption.

Once in the Senate, Villanueva hopes to be a peacemaker among colleagues.

"Balak ko sa Senado, maging peacemaker. May moral ascendancy tayo para maging peacemaker at isantabi muna ang mga bangayan," he said.

Sabah

Villanueva, meanwhile, said he supports the Philippine government's call for a diplomatic, peaceful solution to the Sabah standoff, but should also include an equitable consideration for the Sultanate of Sulu in particular and the Filipino people in general.

"We can't fight China or Malaysia militarily. Gamitin natin ang ating moral acsendancy to exhaust all ways and means possible to assert our claims," he said.