Service, not surveys - Angara

Senatorial candidate Ed Angara said yesterday that a good track record in public service must be the foundation for winnability, rather than the results of surveys or mock elections.

He said this in the heels of poll and mock election results that have been coming out as the race for government posts heats up. In a recent SWS survey, non-administration bets take the lead over Team Unity in the race for Senate seats.

"A candidate with an excellent track record is always a better choice," Angara maintained, "over and above the candidate who is simply popular."

According to Angara, surveys and mock election results do not reflect the overall sentiment of the people. Most of the results, he said, had come from respondents whose numbers do not even represent one percent of the voting public. More so, he added, these numbers do not reflect a wide cross-section of society.

Pulse Asia had recently surveyed only 600 respondents, and the Social Weather Station (SWS) only 1,200 - both well below a representative percentage of the public, and mostly conducted only in Metro Manila.

"It's too early in the race to determine who will win," Angara stressed. "It would be wise for the public to look carefully into the candidates' records of service to pinpoint those who have really contributed to the betterment of society. We as a people cannot go on voting for a candidate, and after he or she wins, blame the candidate for not performing in office. The cycle of non-performance in government office must stop now. Let us not pass off this chance."

Angara stressed that the Senate is a very important cog in the wheel of government. Hence, the voting public must consider, aside from a good track record, a candidate's ability to clearly grasp the nuances of laws and the concept of the rule of law.

"A candidate fit to become senator must have a firm understanding of the people's pulse, what problems they face, and more importantly, how these problems can be solved through law," Angara said.

To build an able republic, Angara explained, those in government must first deal with the needs of the people, such as: stronger laws that preserve the Constitutional rights of the public; reforms in education and better opportunities for the poor; stronger and far-reaching policies on agriculture and food security; and laws that safeguard working conditions of the workforce.

As a three-time senator, Angara has drafted numerous laws in this regard, including: the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers; Student Fare Discount; School Building Program Act; Special Program for Employment of Students; Public School Teachers' Dependents' Benefits; Rural Employment Generation Act; School Modernization and Innovation Act; and Senior Citizens' Additional Services and Privileges, The Upgrading of the Minimum Salary Grade of Teachers or GASTPE Act, among others.

"The idea is simple: an able republic can only be achieved through the initiatives of able public servants," Angara concluded.