LUCBAN, Philippines – Fresh from her victory at the Supreme Court, Senator Grace Poe vowed to provide free education, irrigation, jobs, and health benefits if she is elected president in the May 2016 election.

With her runninng mate, Senator Chiz Escudero, Poe addressed the crowd waiting for them in Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) on Wedneday, March 9, promising good governance that will provide social services.

“Ang pagiging tapat at masipag ang solusyon sa maayos na pamumuhay. ‘Yun ang turo sa akin. At kapag masipag at tapat ang gobyerno, maraming mag-i-invest kung malaman ng mga negosyante na maayos ang pamamahala.” (READ: The Leader I Want: Grace Poe’s to-fix list for 2016)

(Honesty and hardwork are solutions for a decent life. Those were what my parents taught me. And when your government is hardoworking and honest, there will be plenty of investors when they know the country is governed well.)

If she wins, job opportunities will be available to fresh graduates and other citizens, Poe said.

Health benefits and development of facilities in health centers are also part of Poe’s platform.

“Ang ating mga barangay – ang mga RHU (rural health unit). Mahalaga ang kalusugan kaya mahalagang mabigyan ng maayos na facilities ang ating mga RHU. Lalo na para sa mga senior citizen natin.”

(Our barangays – the RHUs. It’s important that RHUs are given decent facilities. Especially for our senior citizens.)

Poe also tackled education, promising SLSU students that she will return to the university to give free wi-fi, new facilities, and equipment.

Quezon’s agriculture

Meanwhile, Poe’s running mate tackled the tandem’s plan to develop agriculture in the province.

“Lalagyan natin ng P300 billion ang agricultural funds at sisiguraduhin naming mararamdaman ito ng mga magsasaka natin dito sa Quezon!” Escudero said.

(We will provide P300 billion for agricultural funds and we will ensure farmers in Quezon will benefit from it!)

According to Philippine Statistics Authority, Quezon has the highest number of farms, covering 341,400 hectares of agricultural land. In fact, 39.7% of the total farms in CALABARZON are  from Quezon province.

Escudero said: “Ang mga anak ng magsasaka ay magkakaroon ng oportunidad na makapag-aral ng libre. Ang mga irrigation ay hindi na dapat binabayaran ng ating mga magsasaka. At magkakaroon ng fund para sa replanting ng mga coco lumber.” (READ: Poe, Escudero: Gov’t, not Danding should settle coco levy issue)

(Farmers’ children will have opportunities to study for free. Farmers shouldn’t pay for irrigation, and there will be funds for replanting coco lumber.)

Quezon is known as one of the suppliers of coco lumber in the Philippines.

Other candidates who promised Quezon that they will give support in agricultural and education issues were the following senatorial candidates: Edu Manzano, Win Gatchalian, Samuel Pagdilao, Neri Colmenares, Roman Romulo, Migz Zubiri, Richard Gordon, and Lorna Kapunan.

The team also campaigned in Candelaria, Tayabas, and Lucena. – Rappler.com

Abigail Abigan is Rappler’s lead mover in Quezon province.