Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31) — For six times, CNN Philippines has brought to the fore senatorial aspirants and asked them how they plan to solve the country’s most pressing concerns.
This Sunday, four more aspirants will be grilled on their advocacies, platforms, and visions should they win in the May national elections.
Let’s get to know the following candidates
DOC WILLIE ONG
Physician Willie Ong has made his presence on social media. His Youtube channel contains videos of him and his wife sharing medical advice.
Ong belongs to the political party, Lakas-CMD. He is an internist-cardiologist at the Manila Doctors Hospital, and a health columnist in Philippine Star and Pilipino Star Ngayon. He is also a volunteer doctor in “Salamat Dok” in ABS-CBN.
Among Ong’s advocacies are cheaper or free medicines, free laboratory tests under the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and incentivizing health workers.
BERNARD AUSTRIA
Community organizer Bernard Austria is a member of the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas.
He was most recently a consultant in the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Special Concerns. Austria was a former consultant of the National Anti-Poverty Commission.
Austria was also former operations head of the offices of Quezon City Representative Winnie Castelo and Quezon City Councilor Bobby Castelo.
His advocacies include universal social benefits for workers, food security through modernized agricultural production, and an end to contractualization.
JOAN SHEELAH NALLIW
Hailing from the political party Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi is lawyer Joan Sheelah Nalliw.
Nalliw, a former teacher from the Ifugao State University, became an Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative for the Sangguniang Bayan ng Mayoyao, Ifugao.
She is for protecting and supporting indigenous peoples’ rights. Nalliw also vouches for anti-turncoatism in political parties as well as federalism which will provide regional representation in Congress.
SONNY MATULA
Sonny Matula is a labor lawyer eyeing a Senate seat under the Labor Party Philippines.
Matula was a former commissioner representing the labor sector in the Social Security System.
His advocacies include modernization of sustainable agriculture, fasttracking agrarian reform, and adoption a national minimum wage.
