Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo strongly advocates for universal access to quality education, emphasizing the need for a stronger government that supports students and teachers in private schools.
In the Bakit Ikaw: The DZRH Job Interview on Friday, March 21, Salo pushed for the expansion of the Republic Act No. 8545, the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (E-GASTPE) which aims to provide financial assistance to students and teachers in private schools at high school, tertiary and technical vocational levels.
He also expressed concern over the increasing number of private school closures.
“Ito po yung expansion para sa mga nag-aaral po sa private schools ay matulungan po sila mabigyan po ng mas malaking tulong yung gobyerno po, para yung mga private schools po natin hindi po magsasara dahil ang dami na pong nagsasara ngayon,” Salo said.
In part of his advocacy for education, he also proposed the Magna Carta for Small and Medium private schools to strengthen the schools' operations.
“Gayundin ang related po diyan yung isinusulong naman po natin na magkakaron po ng Magna Carta of Small and Medium private schools, iyon po yung tatasahin po talaga natin”, he added.
Proposed health initiatives
Aside from education, Salo also advocates for improving healthcare initiatives such as organ donation, midwifery, and free dialysis.
“Through organ donation, siguraduhin lang natin na magkaroon ng sistema, opportunity talagang yung may malalang sakit na madugtungan pa ang buhay nila,” he said.
In partnership with the Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines, Salo aims to strengthen the midwifery profession as they recognize their role in the health of mothers and infants.
“Mayroon din tayong isinusulong, for example pagdating sa kalusugan, isinusulong natin ang pagpapaigting ng midwifery profession sa Pilipinas dahil kinikilala natin ang kanilang papel para sa pagpapasigurado ng kalusugan ng ating ina at sanggol,” Salo explained.
Despite the proposition’s failure to pass the Senate, Salo remains committed to his advocacy.
Moreover, he shared the importance of e-health systems in improving the Philippine health services.
“Ang paggamit ng ating teknolohiya para mapalakas ang pagbibigay ng health services sa ating mga kababayan natin, isusulong din (natin ang e-health systems),” he said.
Additionally, Salo emphasized that free dialysis was under the Universal Healthcare Law, citing the significance of this government support to several Filipino dialysis patients.
“Dati mababa po ‘yan magbigay, dati 2600 (pesos) ‘yan ngayon mahigit 4000 (pesos na) per dialysis per session,” he stated. “Kasama na ang libreng dialysis sa universal healthcare law.”
Support in the industry and seafarers
Salo also shared that he has been a key proponent of the Salt Industry Development Act, which aims to revive the local salt industry and provide assistance to Filipinos who lost their livelihood due to its decline.
“Ito po ay naging batas noong nakaraang taon at kasalukuyang ini-implement ito, tayo rin ang pangunahing nagsulong po niyan,” Salo stated.
Furthermore, with the concern of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and seafarers, he is advancing to champion Republic Act No. 12021, An Act Providing for the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, which protects the rights and welfare of Filipino maritime workers.
“Pagdating naman po sa OFW and seafarers concerns natutuwa rin po natin sabihin na yung Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) na dati po ‘yan ay POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) tayo rin po ang isa pangunahing nagsulong niyan,” he said.
As the founder of the Kabayan Party-list, Salo has been in office for three terms.
The Kabayan Party-list aims to represent the marginalized sectors of the Filipino community, including PWDs, senior citizens, OFWs, fisherfolk, and farmers.
They mainly promote KABAYAN +2 advocacies that stand for KAlusugan, paBAhay, and kabuhaYAN.
Meanwhile, “+2” refers to KABAYAN’s advocacy in upholding the rights of every Filipino to have education, particularly the children, and also supporting OFWs.
