Kababaihan, kabataan at kalusugan.
These “3 K’s” have been the prime advocacy of Laguna 1st District Board Member and San Pedro City Representative-elect Ann Matibag in her first three years of public service.
Being a “Lagunanay” not only to her three children but to the thousands of women in the first district of Laguna, Matibag knows firsthand the challenges of being a mother – and a working mother at that.
This is the main reason why she has chosen to advocate for the advancement of women’s rights even before officially assuming her new role in politics, as San Pedro City’s first-ever representative to Congress.
Women empowerment laws
In a recent radio interview with OpinYon Laguna managing editor Catherine Go and labor leader Padjo Valdenor over radio station DWBL, Matibag wasted no time in outlining her legislative platforms that aim to continue her advocacies for women and children.
Among the legislative agenda that Matibag wants to tackle once she assumes her seat at the House of Representative is passing laws that would ensure “gender economic equality.”
Specifically, she said she would file a law amending certain provisions of the Family Code regarding financial support for couples who had annulled their marriage.
While acknowledging that a divorce law may be difficult to pursue in the current political and cultural landscape, Matibag said she would like to legislate a provision for spousal support or alimony, especially for wives who had had their marriage annulled due to “psychological incapacity.”
She noted that other countries now provide for mandatory support for divorced wives.
"It would be hard to pursue a divorce law politically, but a provision on the Family Code for spousal support for marriages that are invalidated due to psychological incapacity is just only fair, and I will be very supportive of it,” she said.
‘One Student, One Tablet’ bill
Another piece of legislation that Matibag plans to pursue in Congress is the “One Student, One Tablet” bill that has already been filed by Antique Representative and Senator-elect Loren Legarda prior to the May 9 elections.
It can be recalled that Matibag had personally pledged to Legarda to support the bill during the senator-elect’s campaign rally in San Pedro City a few days before the polls.
Legarda's House Bill No. 10405 seeks to provide each public elementary and secondary student as well as students enrolled in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) a tablet.
If students who already have their own personal learning gadgets shall be given educational assistance in the form of an internet allowance to cover the cost of connectivity.
“Ang sabi sa akin ni Legarda, itataguyod natin yung ‘One Student, One Tablet’ na batas sa Pilipinas, kasi nakita natin sa ibang bansa kung gaano ka-supportive ang gobyerno nila sa kanilang mga estudyante, especially sa public schools nila,” Matibag said.
“Gusto ko, especially sa atin sa San Pedro, walang batang maiiwan, lahat may oportunidad na makapag-aral, because I really believe that this is the main reason para maka-angat ang bawat pamilya dito sa ating syudad,” she added.
Renewable energy sources
Meanwhile, Matibag also expressed her full support for the development of renewable energy resources as a means to solve the current supply problems in the country’s electricity supply.
Given that her husband Atty. Melvin Matibag, the current Cabinet Secretary, once served as the president of the National Transmission Corporation (Transco), she had imbued from her husband a deep interest – and concern – over the current problem of the country’s electricity supply problems.
This was one of the reasons she has chosen to be in the House Committee on Energy, she told Go and Valdenor.
"We should really end our reliance on oil and should turn everything into electrictiy-based, including modes of transportation, as well as promote development of renewable energy, such as hydro, wind and solar," she stressed. “The power sector is the backbone of our economy, and I want to contribute in the incoming administration’s vision in developing our energy sector.”
‘Malasakit Center’ in San Pedro City
On the local front, Matibag announced her push for an establishment of a “Malasakit Center” in San Pedro City after seeing the benefits of the one-stop shop center for indigent patients in other cities and towns in Laguna province.
To fulfill the requirements for the establishment of a “Malasakit Center” in the city, Matibag said she would allocate funds to increase the current capacity of the city’s public hospitals to up to 50 beds.
“Kapag nagkaroon na po tayo ng Malasakit Center sa San Pedro City, hindi na po kailangan ng mga pasyente natin na pumunta sa Maynila, at yung gagastusin po nila para sa pagpunta sa mga government agencies ay maaari na po nilang ipambili ng kung ano man ang kakailanganin nila,” she stressed.
Grateful to youth
During her interview, Matibag also expressed her gratitude to the sapn Pedronians, especially the youth sector which she said played a big role in her victory at the May 9 polls.
“Bilang inyo pong “Lagunanay” sa San Pedro, it is really my chance and opportunity to fight for the people’s welfare, at makakaasa po kayo na lahat po ng pondo sa aming opisina ay ibibigay po natin sa mga tao dito sa San Pedro,” she said during the interview.
"I am very grateful for the youth sector, lalo na sa ating mga SK [Sangguniang Kabataan] leaders. Itong nakalipas na eleksyon ay naipakita na hindi na sila mabobola ng lumang pulitika.
“So ito po ang mensahe ko sa mga youth sector: I am with them, I am for them, I would really support lahat ng kanilang mga programa dito sa aming siyudad, at gusto kong gumawa ng mga batas to benefit them more.”