Vows to provide livelihood, health and education for Sarangans

Sarangani Cong. Manny Pacquiao during his privilege speech.

MANILA Philippines – A day after the opening of the 15th Congress, Sarangani Congressman Manny Pacquiao delivered his first privilege speech. He made it clear to all that he was serious about improving the lot of his constituents, as he urged his colleagues to help him in this effort by getting "ready to rumble" in legislative work.

Pacquiao said he is still amazed he made it to the House of Representatives, and narrated how prepared for his new role, including studying governance at the Development Academy of the Philippines.

“Kaya pag pasensyahan niyo na po kung mahuli niyo si Manny Pacquiao nakatitig sa inyo pa minsan-minsan, eh paghanga lang po ‘yan. Paghanga lang po ‘yan mga, sirs and ma'am,” said the 7-division world champion.

In his speech, which was well received by his colleagues, Pacquiao said his priorities for Sarangani are livelihood, healthcare and education.

“Forty percent of the people of Sarangani have no adequate housing, no adequate food, no proper nutrition. For those 40%, it's not just statistics, it's their yearly experience of life,” he said.

Pacquiao said that to improve the quality of life in Sarangani, there is a need to diversify his constituents' sources of livelihood.

Sarangani has relied primarily on fishing, which has been on the decline in the province due to ecological problems.

“We also have corn, rice and coconut. These industries are crying out to be improved, and that is one of the things we will do. We will improve production, post harvest, and marketing processes for corn, rice and coconut,” said Pacquiao.

Health and education

Pacquiao also stressed the need to improve health and educational facilities in Sarangani.

“Did you know that Saranggani province doesn’t have any provincial hospital? Establishing one must obviously be a top priority,” he said.

Aside from infrastructure, he said he will work on expanding PhilHealth benefits and other medical services in his province.

Pacquiao also said he will help create jobs and educational services for out-of-school youths, women, Lumads, and senior citizens.

“We will coordinate with TESDA [Technical Education and Skills Development Authority] on the most relevant and useful programs,” he said.

Pacquiao added they will set up Placement Assistance Coordination and Manpower Assessment Network (PACMAN) centers to help the jobless.

RP’s 1st Olympic gold

Colleagues listen to Cong. Manny Pacquiao.

Pacquiao also urged his colleagues to help him in his efforts to help the country's athletes, including winning the country's first Olympic gold medal.

The country has yet to win an Olympic gold medal since joining the quadrennial event in 1924.

“I want to do something for the Filipino athlete, I want us all to work together and to work very hard to win the first Filipino gold medal in the Olympics, especially this coming 2012,” he said.

Pacquiao vowed to disprove observations that he will fail as a lawmaker.

“Can I be a good congressman? And my resounding answer is, with my heart in the right place, my work ethic, my discipline and my commitment to learn from wiser and more experienced people such as all of you today, yes, I can be a good congressman,” said Pacquiao.

In closing, he used a quote from an American poet and ended with the familiar line heard before his fights.

"So let's get started on this road to progress. I am tempted to quote Robert Frost: 'The roads are lovely, dark and deep but I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep.' However, in the effervescence of my youth, I choose Michael Buffer's famous line: let's get ready to rumble!!!"

His colleagues then gave him a resounding applause. -- with a report from Atom Araullo, ABS-CBN News