The dean of University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG) on Wednesday, May 15, said senatorial candidate Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa is welcome to take training programs under their school.
In an interview with GMA’s Balitanghali, UP-NCPAG dean Fe Mendoza said they were “happy” to hear that Dela Rosa is planning to undergo seminars to learn about lawmaking as his first plan if he wins a Senate seat.
[READ: Dela Rosa to attend lawmaking seminars as first plan if he wins Senate seat]
“Marami kaming training programs sa national. Meron kaming mga executive courses on policy-making. Ngayon nga, meron na kaming nakahanda para sa 18th Congress kasi palagi naming ginagawa ito. Meron na kaming programa na nakahain para sa House [of Representatives] (We have a lot of programs in the national. We have executive courses on policy-making. Actually now, we have already prepared some for the 18th Congress because we always do this. We also prepared programs for the House of Representatives),” Mendoza said.
“Ngayon sa Senate naman, kung gusto ni senator-elect Bato Dela Rosa na magkaroon ng training, welcome siya (For the Senate, if senator-elect Bato Dela Rosa wants a training, he is welcome),” he added.
Apart from the UP-NCPAG dean, Mel Sta. Maria, dean of Institute of Law of Far Eastern University (FEU), is also offering to lecture Dela Rosa about the rule of law and legislation “for FREE.”
Although he is seeking to attend seminars, Dela Rosa, however, told CNN Philippines on Tuesday, May 14, that he won’t take those available at UP because it was “anti-military” and “anti-police.”
Also part of his preparations, Dela Rosa said he will seek out the advice of his fellow senatorial candidates Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel and Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito.
“Magtawag-tawag ako kanila Koko Pimentel, kay JV Ejercito kung ano ba talagang trabaho ng senador (I will call Koko Pimentel and JV Ejercito to ask what is the work of a senator). What do I need to prepare,” he said.
His remarks drew mixed reactions from netizens, with some saying that Dela Rosa should have taken seminars before he filed his candidacy for senator, while others praised him for being “honest” that he needed guidance for him to do his job well.