The Senate has approved a resolution commending former President and Senator Joseph Ejercito Estrada, along with his wife, former Senator Luisa "Loi" Ejercito Estrada, for their significant contributions to the country.
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Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero, who introduced Senate Resolution No. 1295, highlighted Estrada's enduring impact on governance, praising his ability to connect legislative policies with 'the realities on ground'.
"It was in this chamber that he called for a fair society where hard work is rewarded with a better life and a just one in which one is denied of the fruits of their labor," Escudero remarked.
According to the Senate, Estrada was celebrated as a leader who embraced his identity as a "masa" man and remained transparent about his background.
"While others conceal their lack of academic pedigree, you tout your lack of college diploma without resorting to the anti-intellectualism of the insecure," Escudero noted.
Estrada assumed the presidency in 1998 amidst the turmoil of the Asian financial crisis, inheriting a struggling economy that posted only 0.5% GDP growth.
Furthermore, Estrada's administration rebounded to a 3.6% growth rate by 1999, with agriculture surging to 6.6%.
His political career spanned decades, beginning in 1969 as Mayor of San Juan. He later served as a senator, vice president, and eventually, the country’s 13th president.
Beyond politics, Estrada was a celebrated actor, starring in over 100 films and producing 70. His commitment to the film industry led him to establish the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, Inc. (Mowelfund), which aimed to support the welfare of motion picture workers.
In the Senate, he chaired committees focusing on cultural communities and rural development, authoring key legislation such as Republic Act No. 7307, which established the Philippine Carabao Center, and Republic Act No. 6978, which aimed to expand irrigation projects nationwide. He was also recognized as one of the "Magnificent 12" senators who voted to terminate the RP-US Military Bases Agreement in 1991.
Estrada’s tenure as Vice President saw him leading the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission (PACC) and initiating the Philippine Drug Abuse Resistance Education (PhilDARE) program. As president, he prioritized mass housing, agrarian reform expansion, and education programs tailored for the underprivileged.
Meanwhile, the Senate also passed Resolution No. 1296, honoring former Senator Loi Ejercito Estrada for her dedicated service to the Filipino people. Escudero praised her humanitarian work, particularly her medical and relief missions, as well as her legislative efforts to combat poverty and social injustices.
"In her speeches here, she stressed, time and again, that poverty is the greatest comorbidity to whatever sickness there is. Likewise, her bills were prescriptions which sought to cure the many maladies ailing Philippine society," Escudero stated.
Loi's legislative legacy includes laws protecting women, banning human trafficking, advocating for public health and clean water, regulating tobacco and drugs, and promoting local cinema.
