Children yet to find ‘superhero’ in senate bets

MANILA, Philippines – After a series of dialogues with senate bets, children and children’s rights advocates said that they have yet to find a candidate who fits the prototype of a pro-children legislator.

Rowena Cordero, Director of Program Development & Quality for Save The Children, shared in an interview the absence of concrete plans for children’s welfare coming from candidates.

“They claim to be for the children. But when you scratch the surface, [their advocacies are] too generic. We still don’t know how much of their agenda will really benefit children,” she said in Filipno.

Among the advocacies cited by Cordero were the passage of House Bill 4455 or the Anti-Corporal Punishment Bill as well as the effective implementation of the RA 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Law.

“There are also some [candidates] who aren’t as open when it comes to the elimination of corporal punishment. Then there are the candidate who have misgivings in the passage of the the juvenile justice and welfare law,” said Cordero.

Where are our superheroes?

In a superhero-themed variety show last April, pro-children coalition ‘Bata Muna’ (Children First) presented a checklist of the type of candidates to vote for Monday, May 13.

Only 5 out of the 33 Manila-based political bets granted the request for a dialogue coming from pro-chidlren advocates.

Among the candidates who got to listen and talk to children were: Sen Ramon Magsaysay Jr, Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III, Greco Belgica, Paolo Benigno ‘Bam’ Aquino IV, and Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero. 

Advocates concurred that the candidates’ refusal to engage in a talk with the children may be because the kids are not eligible voters. However, they were pleased with the 5 candidates who made time for the children in spite of their busy campaign schedules.

“It is very important for the voters and candidates to know what we are fighting for as kids and what our sentiments are,” said 15-year old Melchor Gerong of Pasay City High School, who attended all of the dialogues.

“Maybe that candidate who will champion children’s rights will come from their generation,” Cordero added, upset over the candidates but optimistic about the future. – Rappler.com

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