HUGPONG ng Pagbabago senatorial candidate Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano interacts with children in Lipa City, Batangas. (FB photo)
Nacionalista Party and Hugpong ng Pagbabago senatorial bet Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano on Tuesday vowed to promote health and welfare of Filipino families and children.
Speaking at the Hugpong ng Pagbabago kickoff rally in Pampanga, the Taguig City representative, who is pioneering an issue-based campaign strategy, said she plans to go around the country to promote her advocacies on health and education, among her other initiatives for the benefit of the Filipino family.
“Sasamantalahin ko nang nandito ako kaharap ng napakaraming nanay, tatay, mga lolo. at lola,” Cayetano said at the HNP rally which was intended to drum up support for senatorial bets endorsed by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
Cayetano, a known health advocate, took the time to remind Filipino mothers of the importance of having their children properly vaccinated, in light of the recent outbreak of measles in several parts of the country.
“‘Yan ho ay napakaseryosong bagay. Malapit ‘yan sa puso ko dahil ho ako ang may-akda ng Mandatory Immunization, isa sa unang batas ko noong ako ho’y pumasok sa Senado,” Cayetano said, referring to the Mandatory Infants and Children Immunization Act (Republic Act 10152), which she principally authored and sponsored.
“Ginawa ko ho ‘yun dahil napakahalaga na ang mga anak natin, may proketsyon laban sa mga sakit,” she added.
The congresswoman lamented that there is now a decline in people’s confidence in vaccines, following the controversy involving Dengvaxia.
She vowed to use the campaign period for the midterm elections as an opportunity to restore Filipino families’ trust in the government’s immunization program.
“Gagawin ko ‘yun araw-araw sa pag-iikot ko dahil takot na takot ako na may isa pang ina na mawalan ng anak… Kwento po ito ng isang ina sa mga ibang ina,” Cayetano said, taking inspiration in her own experiences as a mother, when her third child died of congenital disease.
“Ako po, apat ho ang anak ko… Ang pangatlo ko po… namatay nung maliit pa lang siya… Dinadasal ko, sana may bakuna para sa sakit ng anak ko… Pero wala. Meron talagang sakit na walang lunas. Itong measles, pwedeng iwasan. Please, nakikiusap ako… Suportahan natin ang mga magulang na bumalik ang tiwala sa bakuna,” she shared.
