Negrense lawyer and author Alex Lacson, who is running for senator under the ticket of Vice President Leni Robredo, said on Wednesday, November 3, that his platform focuses on solutions to uplift the lives of the youth and the poor.
Lacson, who arrived in Negros Occidental to join Robredo during her visit to the province on Friday, said his eight priorities include the creation of a center for youth entrepreneurship for those who want to start a business.
“The massive unemployment figures demand alternatives for our jobless youth, which should be driven largely by entrepreneurship,” he said.
He is also pushing for a national apprenticeship program and Angat K-12 to ensure skills enhancement and work opportunities for the youth given the massive unemployment brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lacson said.
Lacson said he also wants to work on franchise reform to spread prosperity, and lift many poor families from poverty.
He also cited his Negosyo para sa Mahihirap or businesses for the poor plan by strengthening agricultural cooperatives, and a Gatas Negosyo program.
Lacson said he would like to champion a 10-year National Dairy Program, with the goal of uplifting 3.4 million small farmers from poverty.
Also included in his platform is community farming to ensure the country’s rice self-sufficiency.
“I propose that where it is appropriate, every province shall allot 2,000 hectares for community rice farming. This initiative will again be powered by cooperatives — the cooperative shall operate the farm into an integrated community rice farming endeavour,” he said.
He is also proposing a “Kalinga Kalikasan” initiative where the private sector would be encouraged to adopt hectares of land for reforestation.
Lacson also said a critical part of the response to poverty alleviation involves government institutions remaining faithful and effective in the pursuit of their mission.
While the Commission on Audit conducts regular audits and acts as an instrument to deter graft and corruption, it is often delayed and not in a position to make substantive follow-throughs on recommendations, he said.
“We need a preventive and advisory mechanism in addition to detection and enforcement capabilities,” he said.
Lacson was born in Barangay Pinaguinpinan, Kabankalan City, to Fe Tenefrancia Ledesma – a public school teacher, and Jose Ramos Lacson – a land surveyor and businessman.*