{"id":71072,"date":"2016-02-21T09:18:20","date_gmt":"2016-02-21T14:18:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=71072"},"modified":"2016-02-21T09:18:20","modified_gmt":"2016-02-21T14:18:20","slug":"long-experience-as-public-servant-is-not-best-qualification-for-president-poe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2016\/02\/21\/long-experience-as-public-servant-is-not-best-qualification-for-president-poe\/","title":{"rendered":"Long experience as public servant is not best qualification for president\u2014Poe"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"(Photo<\/a>
(Photo courtesy of the official Facebook page of Grace Poe<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

MANILA\u2014Independent presidential candidate and Senator Grace Poe said on Sunday there is no proof that having a long experience as a public servant would make one best qualified for the presidency.<\/p>\n

\u201dThere is no proof that if you have long experience, you are good. I think that among us, I might have the shortest experience but, as a mother, I can see the needs of a family,\u201d Poe said during the first presidential debate held in Cagayan de Oro City.<\/p>\n

Poe\u2019s first-round critic, Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, belittled the experience of Poe, saying the country needs \u201cnot an OJT (on the job) president.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201dHow will we be able to know if we are being flattered? For me, experience is the best qualification of a president,\u201d Roxas said.<\/p>\n

In response, Poe said she investigated in the Senate the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DOTC), two government agencies that Roxas handled before announcing his presidential bid.<\/p>\n

\u201dI think, you do not need long experience to know what is lacking in the government\u2019s assistance for our people and if the assistance is consistent,\u201d Poe said.<\/p>\n

In her short experience in the government, Poe led the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and got the highest number of votes of 20 million to earn a seat in the Senate where she led high-profile investigations and passed important measures, including the Freedom of Information Bill.<\/p>\n

Under her stewardship, the FOI bill hurdled the Senate but not the House of Representative, prompting her to promise during the televised debate that, if elected, her first executive order will be about FOI.<\/p>\n

Poe said her experience as a teacher, although belittled by an opponent, would also be helpful for her to become a successful leader of the country.<\/p>\n

\u201dIt is because a teacher has the real concern and teach us what is right or wrong and on what to do on certain topics,\u201d Poe said.<\/p>\n

\u201dI might be new, but our problems are no longer new and many have long experience but their solutions are all the same,\u201d she said in her closing statement.<\/p>\n

Poe said she will also push for free student lunch in public schools and subsidies for the poorest farmers.<\/p>\n

In her opening statement, Poe said the debates are the proper way to inform the public about their candidates and for the people to understand what they can do once elected in May 9 polls.<\/p>\n

She said there are already experienced politicians who led the country but Mindanao remains poor despite having the best products, particularly pineapple and banana.<\/p>\n

\u201dWhat we need is leaders with true compassion, determination, fast action and immediate solutions,\u201d Poe said.<\/p>\n

If elected, Poe said 30 percent of the national budget should go to Mindanao for the immediate solution to development.<\/p>\n

She also intends to improve the power supply for Mindanao by rehabilitation the hydro power plants\u2014Angus and Pulangi in Mindanao.<\/p>\n

On Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s being a womanizer, Poe said the mayor should “restraint a little bit.”<\/p>\n

\u201dAll of us commit mistakes, because we\u2019re just human, but I always give respect whoever you are\u2014men or women, LGBT. All of us should respect each other,\u201d Poe said.<\/p>\n

On the poverty and development which turned out as the hottest issue during the presidential debate, Poe promised to use the untouched Php70-billion coco-levy fund to help save the dying coconut industry.<\/p>\n

\u201dLet\u2019s remember that an average age of coconut tree is six years old. We need replanting. Let\u2019s use the coconut levy fund for our coconut farmers. Create livelihood like coco coir, coco oil, coco water and whatever added value for our farmers,\u201d Poe said.<\/p>\n

To improve the agriculture sector, Poe pushed for agro-industrial zones wherein the Departments of Trade and Agriculture will jointly market the products of the farmers.<\/p>\n

\u201dLet\u2019s have soil testing. What is the added value that we can do to their lands? How we can increase their income. Irrigation should be free,\u201d Poe said.<\/p>\n

On the issue of the South China Sea, Poe agreed with Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States should have been approved by the Senate. The Supreme Court has declared EDCA as legal.<\/p>\n

Poe said the Philippines should talk with China “constructively but let\u2019s take a leadership role in the ASEAN so that we can follow a particular Code of Conduct that will be followed by the other countries in the ASEAN.”<\/p>\n

On the peace process, Poe said she wanted to have a transparent, inclusive and sustainable talks and agreement with all the groups and sectors\u2014Moro rebels, Maguindanaoan, Tausug, Maranao, Badjao, Indigenous People, and Christians.<\/p>\n

While talking peace, Poe said all the projects in Mindanao should be implemented, including the long proposal to build the Mindanao Rail project which, she said, would require Php70 billion.<\/p>\n

On Duterte\u2019s federalism proposal, Poe said she is open into it if it would make the country better but she prefers \u2018devolution of powers\u2019 wherein local governments have prerogative to spend funds.<\/p>\n

The Mindanao presidential debate is one of the three such debates organized by GMA Network and the Philippine Daily Inquirer in coordination with the Commission on Elections (Comelec).<\/p>\n

The next two debates will be held in the Visayas and Luzon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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