Atty. Raul Lambino of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino - Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) is a staunch supporter of the head of his political party, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and has outlined five key areas he plans to focus on if elected as Senator: agriculture, education, investments, the welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), and strengthening ties with other nations. He was able to elaborate on the first two.
Agriculture
During the Bakit Ikaw: The DZRH Job Interview for 2025 Elections segment on March 13, Lambino enumerated his straightforward, five-point program using “A, E, I, O, U,” with ‘A’ representing agriculture.
He intends to push for the modernization of the agriculture sector by way of more mechanized means of production.
“Kailangan maging modernized na ‘yung agriculture natin—mechanized, using new technology,” he said.
“Alam na alam kong gawin ‘yan kasi ginagawa ko na eh. Grounded ako pag dating sa agrikultura. Hindi lang pagtatanim ng palay, mais, gulay, mag-alaga ng mga hayop … At ‘yan ang ating pagtutuunan ng pansin,” he added. As a semi-retiree, he works on a small farm and owns livestock.
(Our agriculture must be modernized—mechanized, using new technology. I know exactly how to do that because I’m already doing it. I’m deeply rooted in agriculture—not just in planting rice, corn, and vegetables, or tending to livestock … That is what we will focus on.)
He also said we should follow the examples set by countries such as Saudi Arabia, China, and Israel, who have successfully developed agriculture in their deserts.
Education
Lambino acknowledged the severe shortage of classrooms in the country, and how it negatively impacts students’ ability to learn.
“‘Yung edukasyon kasi natin, problema, kakulangan ng classroom. Ilan, 160,000 plus classroom ang kulang sa buong Pilipinas,” he said. “Paano naman gagaling ang mga estudyante natin kung nagsisiksikan silang parang mga sardinas doon sa maliit na classroom?”
(For our education sector, the problem is a shortage in classrooms. We are short by more than 160,000 classrooms nationwide. How will our students improve if they’re packed like sardines in a small classroom?)
He proposed encouraging private sector involvement in building better classrooms equipped with electricity, running water, and restrooms, through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
As a professor of political science and law, he noted the importance of teachers’ career security and satisfaction, pointing out that they do not have many opportunities for promotion.
“Nangyari nga, papasok ka sa DepEd (Department of Education), teacher 1, teacher 2. Pag dating ng teacher 2, nako, baka hindi ka na ma-promote. Maghintay ka nalang na mag-retire ka. Kasi walang available na mga teaching positions. So dagdagan natin ‘yung mga plantilla positions.”
(What’s happening is, that teachers enter DepEd, teacher 1, then teacher 2. When teacher 2 comes, they may not be promoted. They will have to wait for their predecessor to retire because there are no available teaching positions. So we must add more plantilla positions.)
Ensuring teachers are satisfied with their jobs will help prevent them from seeking opportunities abroad, he said, which is crucial in retaining Math, Science, English teachers as well as guidance counselors, which the country is in shortage of.
Moreover, new courses aligned with the emergence of the Digital Age must be introduced, Lambino proposed. Such knowledge would be valuable in the fields of Science, Engineering, Math, and even in Management and Economics.
“Magpunta ka sa ibang bansa ngayon, sa mga ASEAN nalang … lamang na lamang ang Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia. Singapore, malayong-malayo na. Uungusan pa tayo ng Cambodia. Dahil nakatutok sila ngayon sa Science, Technology, Engineering, Economics, Management, and Math,” he said.
“E tayo, mayabang ang Pilipino, sabi natin, ‘We are the most number of Filipinos using cellphone(s). 70 million plus. E di gamitin natin ‘yun, ‘yung pagiging tech-savvy para matuto ‘yung mga Pilipino,” he explained.
(You can go to other countries today, let’s focus on the ASEAN nations … Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia are ahead of us. Singapore, a great deal ahead. Even Cambodia might overtake us. It’s because they are now focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Economics, Management, and Math. We Filipinos are prideful, we say, ‘We have the most number of people using cellphones’— 70 million plus. So let’s use that, being tech-savvy, so Filipinos can learn.)
Constitutional reform
Lambino also said he advocates Constitutional reform, in favor of a federalist, parliamentary government.
Bakit Ikaw?
When asked why he wanted to be senator, Lambino addressed the Filipino people.
“Sa loob ba ng 20, 30 taon, kayong mga ordinaryong mamamayang Pilipino ay nakaranas kayo ng gutom, kayo ba ay mahirap pa rin? Gumanda ba ang iyong buhay? At okay na ‘yung pamilya ninyo? Kung sagot niyo ay ‘Oo,’ … iboto niyo uli ‘yung mga tumatakbong senador. Ibalik niyo po sila,” he said.
“Pero kung sa tingin ninyo, ay naghirap kayo, nakaranas kayo ng gutom, hindi pa maayos ang inyong pamilya, hindi maayos ang iyong lugar, subukan niyo po ‘yung bago,” he invited.
(In the past 20, 30 years, you ordinary Filipino citizens, have you experienced hunger? Are you still in poverty? Has your quality of life improved? Is your family okay? If your answer is ‘Yes,’ … vote for the senators running for re-election. Put them back in government.
But if you think that you have struggled with poverty, have experienced hunger, your family is not faring well, and your area is not either, give new candidates a chance.)
Lambino vowed to oppose the government’s wrongdoings and stay true to Filipinos and the Philippines.
“Kailangan po natin ang isang oposisyon sa ating pamahalaan. Kailangan natin ay isang boses na magsasabi kung ano talaga ang nangyayari sa ating bansa. Ako po ay mananatili na tutuligsa sa mga kamalian ng pamahalaan. At ako ay mananatili na tapat sa mamamayang Pilipino at sa bansa natin.”
(We need an opposition in our government. We need a voice that will tell us what is really happening in our country. I will continue to denounce the government’s mistakes. And I will remain loyal to the Filipino people and our nation.)
