Manila–Since contractualization has become a trend in Filipino employment, Senatorial Candidate Cesar Montano said that he would regulate such a trend if given the chance to serve in the halls of the Senate so that he can make situations more favorable to laborers.

He will create and sponsor a bill called the Contractualization Regulation Act. Some key provisions that he is looking at is the inclusion of social service benefits (SSS, GSIS, etc) in the pay of employees. He also wants to regulate this practice to
large, financially-stable companies by setting limits and having these companies declare their financial position before they be allowed to adopt the contractual setup on a temporary basis. Lastly, to put teeth to the law, he seeks to institute financial disincentive and criminal charges to companies found guilty of breaking this law.

He explained that hiring workers on a contractual basis has become a permanent cost-saving measure by companies. “In reality, companies should only adopt contractualization to evade closure due to low income, but now, even the top grossing companies in the Philippines practice this to take advantage of the lack of opportunity and the existing unemployment and
underemployment in the country”, he said.

With contractualization, companies reduce cost by not paying for the employees’ benefits like SSS/GSIS, Philhealth and Pag-Ibig Fund and other infractions. They also do not have to worry about security of tenure of laborers and large labor unions since contractual employees are not allowed by law to join one. The companies also have to abide with less labor
laws with when adapting this kind of setup “In turn, its as if the companies that practice this are having extra sources of revenues. This form of circumvention of our labor laws must be addressed immediately”, Montano added.
Montano said that he is aware that this setup is being practiced by large companies, especially mall corporations. Montano also explained what the employees or laborers feel being under such a setup.

“They receive no benefits and they receive less than what they should for their efforts, they must feel really low when they compare themselves with people with permanent jobs”, he said. He also cited the reapplication horror that the employees have to go through, especially in the case of mall employees whose prior performance are given little value in the process.
He said that he seeks to file a senate bill that addresses this problem if elected in the senate. He said that “this is simply the right thing to do” so as to block the spots of legal circumventions and to divert a small percentage of the companies’ funds to its rightful destination- the workers.

“The companies or offices must understand that if government does something about the contractualization, not only the laborers but the whole organization will benefit because it will now have employees focused on their tasks, not on what
company they will apply in after their contract expires. If companies can’t get their workers to love their jobs, then these companies will suffer from under-productivity since the workers will not put their heart in what they will do. Then they will end up firing the workers, then he or she gets replaced and the cycle continues”, he noted.

I’m Cesar Montano’s older sister and I’m currently one of the Project Managers of Times Media Group here in London.

I do agree that a lot of Philippine movie actors, talented and less talented, have been trying the world of politics, perhaps, either for survival – for continuance of a better life or let me put it this way, to shun misery as we all know that politics is a good business , or to truly serve our country. This fact is indeed a picture of a desperate political situation in the Philippines, and this is really sad. I must say that this is a sign that we we do not have anymore deserving, highly educated and reliable people to serve our land. Indeed a disgusting fact to accept. I wonder what the future holds for our country.

As one of the reasons in writing you, let me tell you something about my family. We seven children 2 girls and 5 boys, were nurtured by a severe and simple lawyer father, a Roman Catholic and a Seventh Day Adventist mother. They always wanted us to lead a simple life and have taught us to be always righteous, to have principles and have our own Godly conviction. In fact, in the 60’s my father who was then a Custom Arrastre Officer in the South Harbour of Manila, refused to accept 1 million of pesos from a Chinese businessman to smuggle out something. That means my father should have let a lorry of items to get out of Gate 1 without paying the duties. He told the other colleagues of this offer and they made a setup to block it. The day after, my father’s photo was in the newspapers holding a plaque for his honesty and few days after somebody tried to shoot him on his way home while driving his motorbike along Roxas Blvd but thank God the injury was not that serious.

I must say that this is the most wonderful treasure that our father had left us before he passed away apart from the hectares of land in Bohol province. My father would always taught us ” my children, my good deeds are the best things that I could leave you and hope you will treasure them”. Cesar for one has followed that. If i remember it right, his manager, Norma Japitana, was telling me one time at a dinner that Cesar has refused several commercials which involved a huge amount of money. His contention was the products are not good for the health of the people, and I am very proud of him!

For your information, Cesar is not only a very good actor ( I can say that many times ), director and producer who has captured the A, B and C clients for his movies, but also a Civil Engineer and very good painter. Actually, he gave me two paintings for my house in italy which he painted only several hours during his stay at my home 5 years ago.

I, therefore, believe that being a man of principles, having Godly convictions, a good christian and charity worker, he will be able to serve our people in a righteous way with our Dear Lord beside him. And, besides, is it not that before one becomes a president or a senator, he or she should be in the office first. Let us take Ramon Magsaysay, he had been a mechanic before he became a President of the Republic of the Philippines and with my knowledge about our history, he has been considered to be one of the best presidents that we have ever had. So please give Cesra a chance to serve our country and do not underestimate him as he is full of talents and a good guy. He has a lot of good plans for our educational and health improvement. I, for one, will also share him the good things that I have seen around Europe for 21 years that we could possibly apply for the benefits of our people. Please do not forget that Cesar himself is a well-travelled man and he has got a hands-on approach in life. he is very pragmatic. Lastly, he has admitted that he has to study a lot in order to remove ignorance on his part, politically wise. I am not saying this just because he is my brother, but because as a sister I know his heart, He’s got a BIG ONE and the Holy Spirit dwells in it. He is a good christian, you know.

Best regards,
Maria Mercedes M. Cantù

Reference:FarFromNeutralNotions

Cebu City—As the campaign for the senatorial race nears the homestretch, veteran and multi-awarded actor-director-producer and senatorial candidate Cesar Montano of Team Unity said he is confident that he will make it to the Magic 12. “It is true that I have no personal fund to spend on lavish campaign gimmicks, even the much needed paid TV ad, but the support I am getting from the ground makes up for these lack of resources,” revealed Montano. He said that from the day he started to hit the campaign trail, he has been mobbed by adoring fans who promised to vote for him on May 14. His wife Sunshine also disclosed that support in terms of campaign paraphernalia kept coming in even without them asking. “Just the other day, our ninong Dolphy, the comedy king, sent a thousand t-shirts for Cesar’s campaign,” disclosed Sunshine during a recent luncheon with media editors, columnists and reporters.

It was reported in some broadsheets that some Team Unity personnel are operating to shave the votes from Montano to be delivered to the more favored candidates of the administration. Montano said he is not aware of this. Some of his fans in the provinces are reacting though to the shorter time allotted to their idol compared to the focus given on his team mates in the latest group TV ad of Team Unity. “He is placed last and is almost immediately cut after his short spiel,” one Boholano supporter observed. “Even in the sample ballot given to Bohol for distribution, he is placed at the eight position. Would the Ilocanos accept a sample ballot with Chavit in 8^th place,” asked the same supporter. It was reported that Bohol Governor Eric Aumentado returned the sample ballots.

Instead of being affected, the gentleman that he is and like a true trooper and team player, Montano religiously attended all the provincial sorties of Team Unity even to the point of missing some important press conferences in Manila like the one being arranged by movie producer Mother Lily Monteverde. Always made the last to speak in order to keep the crowd from leaving, Montano’s consistent presence all over the country is apparently winning the votes, contrary to what some surveys are saying. Support is also coming from organized sectors like the 18 member-federations of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines(TUCP), the country’s largest trade union center.

Victor Balais, president of the Philippine Transport and General Workers’ Organization (PTWGO), said they are all out for Montano. “He is the only candidate with a clear stand on contractualization,” he said. “And his C.E.S.A.R. package for labor that calls for Collective bargaining agreement, quality Education, Safety nets for those who will be negatively affected by globalization, Asset reforms and promotion of Rights, like right to strike and to organize, is consistent with the issues the workers are fighting for,” continued Balais.

The Agrarian Reform Council (ARC), a party-list group for peasants and farm workers has also thrown their support for Montano. “We agree 100% for his C.E.S.A.R. agenda for rural development. We are also for Cooperative development like credit coops, education for all, quick, effective, and efficient delivery of Social services, implementation of Agrarian reform and massive but non-graft ridden Rural infrastructure,” said a spokesperson of ARC.

Actress Sunshine Cruz, Montano’s wife and not so secret weapon, said they have been overwhelmed by the support from ordinary people they are getting every where they go. “Though it is tiring, and it meant being separated from our kids for days, we are energized when we see and shake the hands of ordinary peasants, laborers, vendors, housewives, who went out of their way to attend our rallies.” “I hope and pray that this translates into votes for Cesar,” said Sunshine. She also calls on the people to guard the votes for Cesar. “In the end,” she said, “it will be God’s will. It will be destiny.”

Davao City- Saying that the latest hostage-taking incident in Nigeria, where eight (8) Filipinos were abducted should not take place again, Senatorial Candidate Cesar Montano said that he will use all legislative means to prevent this case from happening again. “The country should permanently ban the sending of OFWs in danger or war zones like Iraq and Nigeria to avoid these kinds of situation from happening. Yes, I am aware of the financial costs of this, but the risk of abduction is just too high in these areas. There are other countries that can serve as alternative destinations, and we should explore these places as well, ” Montano said in his speech during the Team Unity meeting de Avance yesterday. In this media interview, he lamented the fact that it costs the country much in terms of negotiation and political altercations if a Filipino is abducted abroad. “It is simply time to shift from a reactive to a preventive mode,” he asserted. He also said that he has grown tired of watching negotiations with so-called ‘terrorists’ because he knows this situation could have been prevented.

Montano said that issuing bans in certain countries is an unpopular move because of the unemployment, hunger, and poverty existing in the country. However, he said “that if being unpopular is the price to pay in saving lives, then I’ll gladly accept it. “ “It will take a large amount political will to craft this type of policy and a greater amount of resolve in implementing it, but I am looking forward to the ban since this is what’s best for the OFWs,“ he added.

Montano added that if elected as a Senator, he would be tasked to review and ratify all the international bilateral agreements that the Philippines signs. He said he will see to it that the agreements will not only bring favorable financial and economic opportunities in the Philippines, it will also protect the rights of Filipinos working abroad who are most of the time subjected to racism and discrimination. Asked if he finds this

legislative function as hard, he replied, “I find the ratification of foreign agreements an easy task, I just have to put the interest of the Filipinos and the entire country above everything else,” he remarked. “Philippine sovereignty merits primacy at all times,” said Montano.

Asked for comments about international environmentally-related treaties like the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), Montano said that he, as an environmentalist by heart and actions, evident in the movies he makes and the advocacies he fights for, would want to repeal some of the provisions in the agreement. “I want to rethink parts of the JPEPA policy, while there are possible economic impacts, I do not agree in the provision that says Japan can send its garbage to the Philippines. We are not the garbage can of Asia. We are already having a hard time finding landfills and places to dump our trash. Now we will be receiving a significant amount of garbage. What if this includes industrial toxic wastes? It will kill our people. I can’t allow that, not if I value the beauty of places like Palawan, Bohol and Batangas”, he commented. He added that environmental international agreements would definitely be up for review should he get a seat in the senate.

Meanwhile in his radio interviews the multi-awarded actor-director-producer is optimistic that he will make it in the magic 12 as groundswell of support for various sectors have poured in from day one of his campaign and has intensified as homestretch for the May 14 polls nears. Among those that expressed support were partylist Agrarion Reform Council (ARC).

The Agrarian Reform Council (ARC), a party-list group for peasants and farm workers has also thrown their support for Montano. “We agree 100% for his C.E.S.A.R. agenda for rural development. We are also for Cooperative development like credit coops, education for all, quick, effective, and efficient delivery of Social services, implementation of Agrarian reform and massive but non-graft ridden Rural infrastructure,” said a spokesperson of ARC.

Reform Council Victor Balais, president of the Philippine Transport and General Workers’ Organization (PTWGO), said they are all out for Montano. “He is the only candidate with a clear stand on contractualization,” he said. “And his C.E.S.A.R. package for labor that calls for Collective bargaining agreement, quality Education, Safety nets for those who will be negatively affected by globalization, Asset reforms and promotion of Rights, like right to strike and to organize, is consistent with the issues the workers are fighting for,” continued Balais.

Las Piñas City- Sa isang interview ng mga miyembro ng media, sinabi niya na mayroon siyang dalawang pakay sa kanyang ‘cross-country’ na pangangampanya. “Pumunta ako dito para makita ang aktwal na sitwasyon ng mga squatters at urban poor, at para patunayan na mali ang sinasabi ng mga poll survey”, wika ni Montano. Sinabi din niya na bilang “kampeon ng mahihirap na Pilipino at katarungang panlipunan”, nais niyang makita niya mismo ang kalagayan ng ating mga kababayan upang maging mas madali sa kanyang gumawa ng mga batas na magpapagaan sa kanilang mga buhay. Sinabi din ni Montano na ang mainit na pagtanggap sa kanya ng mga tao dito at sa lahat ng kanyang mga napuntahang bayan ay hindi umuugma sa isang kandidatong bumababa ang ranking sa mga poll surveys.

“Ang tunay na sintemyento ng tao ay lalabas sa Mayo 14. Hindi ko naman binibalewala ang survey bilang isang walang kahulugang proseso, pero ang pagdami na mga sumusuporta sa akin hindi lamang sa pagdalo sa aking mga kampanya, kundi pati na rin sa paglalabas ng mga text messages, support statements, at mga materyales sa kampanya, ng kanyang mga kaibigan at ng iba’t ibang sector ng lipunan ay patunay na na sa nasa Magic 12 ako sa puso ng mga tao”, inihayag ni Montano.

Pagkatapos lumapag sa NAIA kahapon galing sa pangangampanya sa Mindanao, diretso na sa pagbisita si Montano sa mga mahihirap na lugar sa buong Metro Manila, kung saan malugod siyang tinangap ng mga tao, na sumisigaw pa ng “Buboy, number 1 ka sa amin!” Kahit matindi ang init at pagod niya, sinabi ni Montano na “Ang mainit na pagtanggap sa akin ng mga tao sa iba’ ibang bahagi ng bansa ang nagbibigay sa akin ng lakas at sigla para ipagpatuloy ang aking pangangampanya hanggang sa araw ng halalan. Hindi nakaapekto ang resulta ng mg survey sa aking determinasyon”.

Tungkol naman sa sektor ng urban poor, sinabi ni Montano na dapat maipatupad ng maayos ang Republic Act 7279 o ang Urban Development and Housing Act. Aniya, ang mga taong nabibilang dito ay biktima lamang ng mga kamalian at kapabayaan ng gobyerno simula pa noong panahon ng mga Espanyol. “Hindi lamang natin dapat ilipat ang mga urban poor at mga informal settlers, kailangan din natin silang isali sa mga programa ng gobyernong naglalayong i-decentralize ang Metro Manila at ang buong bansa, sa pamamamagitan ng paglilipat sa kanila sa mga hindi gaanong mataong lugar na mga probinsya kung saan marami pa rin ang mga oportunidad makapagsimula at makapaghanap ng ikabubuhay”, wika ni Montano. Pero mabilis siya sa pagklaripika na hindi niya layong ilipat ang mga tao sa mga walang taong isla o sa mga hindi maaaring tirahang mga lugar. “Bago sila ililipat, kailangang siguraduhin ng gobyerno na meron na silang mga mapagkukunan ng trabaho, may mapapasukang mga iskwelahan ang kanilang mga anak, at kailangang meron na rin silang tubig, kuryente at iba pa”, dagdag pa niya.

Nais niya ding ipatupad dito ang kanyang ‘work-for-a-house’ policy’ upang mapababa ang gastusin sa paglipat sa kanila. Sa patakaran niyang ito, ang mga benepisyaryo ng proyekto na mismo ang magiging manggagawa sa mga programang pabahay kung saan isang tirahan ang magiging kabayaran sa kanila. “Kung desentralisado na ang ating bansa, magiging balanse na ang paglaki ng ekonomiya nito”, wika niya.

Ngunit nang tinanong pa si Montano tungkol sa mga reaksyon niya sa mga lumalabas na survey, sinabi niyang wala siyang nakikitang dahilan para bumaba ang kanyang ranking sapagkat tinutulungan pa nga niya ang kanyang mga kasama sa Team Unity. “Sa mga programa sa kampanya, napapansin kong marami sa mga tao ang pumunta para makita ako ako, makamayan, at masabihang susuportahan nila ako. Marami akong natatangap na suporta, at nakikita ko ang sinseridad ng mga tao kapag ginagawa nila ito. Kaya hindi ako makapaniwala sa resulta ng mga survey na ito”, sabi niya. Idinagdag din niyang nagiging libreng part-time endorser na rin siya ng kanyang mga kasama sa partido sa mga lokal na kampanya, ngunit nakakapagtaka na nalalamangan pa siya ng mga kandidatong ito sa mga survey.

Sinabi naman ni Montano na alam niyang siya ay isang ‘political underdog’. Ngunit ito raw ay hindi sapat na dahilan upang hindi siya iboto ng mga tao, dahil tumakbo siya para sa trabaho at sa serbisyo, at hindi para sa mga makukuhang pera o benepisyong pulitikal. “Nais kong makagawa ng mahahalagang mga batas, hindi makagawa ng pansariling malalaking bahay gamit ang pera galing sa kaban ng bayan. Tama lamang sabihin na dapat iboto ng mga Pilipino ang mga tapat na taong nais maglingkod sa bayan”, winika din niya.

Ang maybahay naman ni Montano, ang aktres at producer na si Sunshine Cruz ay sumali sa Campaign Caravan ng Team Unity sa Pampanga kahapon, at nanamawagan sa mga tao na iboto ang kanyang asawa na isang “simple, matulungin at talentadong at tapat na tao na may malaking puso para sa masang Pilipino”. Kahit nabigla din sa pagbaba ng kanyang asawa sa mga survey, sinabi ni Cruz na, “Itutuon na lamang namin ng aking asawa ang atensyon sa pangangampanya sa kanya bilang senador at sa pagtulong sa TEAM Unity. Hindi kami magpapaapekto sa mga survey na ito”.

Ipinahayag din ni Cruz na nakapagtapos ng kursong Civil Engineering si Montano sa Lyceum University ngunit hindi na nakapagpakadalubhasa dito sapagkat nabaling na ang kanyang atensyon sa Arts, at kalaunan ay sa industriya ng pelikula ng nagbigay dito ng maraming mga karangalan sa Pilipinas mula sa ibang bansa bilang aktor, direktor at producer ng mga pelikula. “Nagamit niya ang kanyang pagiging inhenyero sa pagpapatayo ng mga bahay namin sa Bulacan at sa Quezon City,” wika ng aktres, na nagbunga ngiti at tawa mula sa mga miyembro ng press.

MANILA- In a radio interview last May 2, 2007, Team Unity Senatorial Bet Cesar Montano expressed his sentiments against child labor which has become rampant in the Philippines. Asked of the effect that child labor brings to a child, Montano said, “Child Labor steals the childhood from a child, which is a vital part of growing up. It also brings the child away from education, which can have adverse effects on his future”, he remarked. Lastly, he said that child labor exposes a child to hazardous environments like mines, quarries and even ‘whore houses’ which may either directly take his or her life or take his or her future. He said that his movie Muro Ami opened his eyes on this issue.

“The ties within a Filipino family is so strong that even children do work to help fight their state of poverty and ease their parents of workload”, Montano added, saying that poverty and culture are to blame for child labor. He also said that in a poor country like the Philippines, a child working for the sake of the family is considered ‘normal and acceptable’, but expressed the need to change such a perception.

If elected in the Senate, Montano said that he will no longer tamper with the existing laws on child labor, Republic Act 7610 and RA 7658, since he deems that the two are already sufficient.  “It is up to the executive departments to implement those laws properly”, he added. 

He said he would rather attack what he believes is the source of child labor- poverty.  “If elected in the Senate, I will attack the reasons for child labor.  I will help alleviate poverty and hasten industry development by crating new laws or putting more money in their budget”, Montano said.  He argued that if the parents work in a stable, well-paying job, then the children no longer have to work.  They can focus on the things where they should- play and studying.

           Another thing he said he can do is to perform strict scrutiny on the offices in the executive tasked to handle the problem.  He said that check and balance over the executive branch is part of the job of a senator, thus he will make sure that the programs against child labor are within their agenda.  Montano also said that he will make sure that there is a good system in implementing the law, especially in the local level, to make sure that the programs are well implemented.

In 2001, there are about four (4) million child laborers aged five (5) to 17 in the Philippines, 60% or 2.4 million of which work in hazardous environments.

Lanao Del Norte– Recognizing that education plays a key role in bridging the gap between the rich and the poor, Senatorial Candidate Cesar Montano announced before an audience of farmers and rural folks in Kapatagan municipality that he will push for education reforms immediately once elected in Senate. “The more educated our population is, the more chances for genuine development in our country. Education is not just an issue of the haves but more so an issue of the have nots, the marginalized like the farmers, urban and rural poor” Montano explained. Montano believes that in our current situation where access to quality education is a prime problem, education has become a major factor in the issue of social divide.

Before he aspired for a Senate seat, his advocacy for the importance of quality education was imbued in his award-winning movie “Jose Rizal.” “Our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal believed that the youth is the hope of the land, and definitely, the Philippines would depend largely on the current youth 15 to 20 years from now, thus, the educational system should be modified to provide the best training for our young students today. We should give emphasis on the students’ outputs each day and at the end of the term and not merely count their attendance in class, so that we can create better and more independent leaders, entrepreneurs, and workforce for our country,” he said.

Montano also said, “while the country boasts a literacy rate of 93.4%, our functional literacy rate is still low at 84.1% and thus we need to increase it through a better educational curriculum.  “I am alarmed that our country produces lesser graduates as the year level goes up.  But we should not only focus on the number of graduates, but the quality of the graduates as well. We are graduating people who are learning less and are ill-equipped for global competitiveness,” he added.

            Montano also sees areas for improvement in the country’s curriculum, especially for secondary education.  He also doesn’t like the curriculum’s dependence on the whims of the man at the helm of Department of Education (DepEd) since “these changes cost money”.  He said that if elected in the Senate, he will enact a law that will institute major changes in the curriculum, particularly in the time allotted for and the topics, knowledge, attitudes, and skills to be learned in each subject.  The bill will also institute 10-year tenures on new educational programs and grading systems to avoid any confusion in the part of the students and teachers.  He said that the current textbooks used by students will also be reviewed and revised if need be.

            The large discrepancy between the quality of urban and rural education is another of Montano’s concern.  He said he noticed the glaring lack of classrooms, infrastructure, books and many other things in the poor provinces of the country.  “We still have children who climb mountains and cross rivers in order to get to their school.  We still have poor families who cannot sustain their children’s almost free elementary and secondary education”, he added.  He also mentioned that a good education for their children has always been the aim of parents since this will draw them out of poverty and that since education and rural development are parts of his platform, these two sectors can expect legislative help from him should he win in the Senate, particularly in the financial and infrastructure support.

For Montano, the education sector is a good investment to put a large part of the budget on.  He said that he doesn’t see the reasons why the legislature has been cutting the budget for education in the past few years, leading to stagnant state of primary and secondary schools, and tuition fee increases for government tertiary schools.  “Imagine a parent buying so many household appliances or even guns while not giving enough money for his or her children’s education, including ‘baon’.  That’s exactly what I am seeing in our country’s budget allocations,” he commented.  He added that his role in the budget process will be his primary avenue to help improve education.

But he also recognized that the problem on education is not only education itself.  “There are problems that indirectly affect education like poverty, unemployment and child labor, and they not should be left out in the equation to improve education in general, Montano added.

Lanao Del Norte- Dahil ang edukasyon ang nagtutulay sa mahihirap na Pilipino patungo sa mas magandang buhay, sinabi ng kandidato sa pagka-senador na si Cesar Montano sa mga magsasaka at mamamayan ng Munisipyo ng Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte na itutulak niya ang pagkakaroon ng agarang pagbabago sa sistema na edukasyon kung mahahalal siya bilang senador. “Kung mas maraming nakapag-aral sa ating kabuuang populasyon, mas magiging posible ang pagkakaroon ng pag-unlad sa ating bansa. Ang edukasyon ay hindi lamang umiikot sa isyu pagdedesisyon para mag-aral, umiikot din ito sa oportunidad para gawin ito, lalong lalo na sa sitwasyon ng ating mga marginalized na sektor, tulad ng mga magsasaka, urban at rural poor”, paliwanag ni Montano. Naninniwala si Montano na ang pagkakaroon ng tao ng pagkakataong maabot ang kalidad na edukasyon ang isa sa pinakamalaking problema ng ating bansa. “Sa kasalukuyan, ang edukasyon o kawalan nito ay nagiging isang dahilan ng pagkawatak-watak ng ating lipunan” dagdag pa niya.

Bago pa man siya na nagdesisyong kumandidato sa pagka-senador, isa na sa mga adbokasiya ni Montano ang pagkakaroon ng kalidad na edukasyon, at naisabuhay niya ito sa kanyang pelikulang “Jose Rizal” na nag-uwi ng maraming karanganal at nagwagi sa maraming patimpalak. “Naniwala ang ating pambansang bayaning si Dr. Jose Rizal na ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng ating bayan, at totoo nga, ang Pilipinas ay aasa din sa mga kabataang nito pagkatapos ng 15 o 20 pang taon. Samakatuwid, kailangan nating baguhin ang mga mali sa sistema sa edukasyon upang maibigay natin ang pinakamainam na pagsasanay para sa ating mga mag-aaral. Kailangan nating pagtuunan ng pansin ang mga natatapos na gawaing pang- skwela at natututunang kaalaman, aktitud at kasanayan ng isang bata sa bawat araw, at hindi lamang ang kanilang pagdalo sa mga klase o ang pagcheck sa kanilang ‘attendance’, upang magkaroon ang bansa ng mas matalino at maaasahang mga lider, negosyante at mga manggagawa sa hinaharap”, wika din niya.

Sinabi niya na kahit ipinagyayabang ng bansa ang 93.4% na literacy rate nito, ang functional literacy rate naman natin ay nasa 84.1% lamang, at kailangan itong mapataas sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaroon ng mas magandang curriculum sa iskwela. Ani pa ni Montano, “Nakakalungkot na pakunti nang pakunti ang gumagradweyt sa bawat antas taon-taon”. “Ngunit hindi lamang ang bilang, kundi ang kalidad ng graduates ang dapat nating pagtuunan ng pansin, “ dagdag pa niya.

Sinabi din ni Montano na may nakikita siyang dapat pagbutihin sa curriculum ng bansa, lalong-lalo na sa edukasyong pangsekundarya. Hindi din niya gusto ang pagbabago-bago ng programa sa bawat pagbabago ng kalihim ng Department of Education (DepEd) sapagkat ang mga pagbabagong ito ay “may katumbas na pera”. Nais niyang magmungkahi ng isang senate bill na magbibigay ng isang malakihang pagbabago sa kurikulum, partikular na oras na inilalaan at bagay na ituturo sa mga asignatura. Ang batas na ito ay magbibigay din ng sampung-taong immunity sa pagbabago sa nagawang programa at grading system, para maiwasan ang pagkalito ng mga estudyante’t guro. Sinabi din niya na kailangan masuri at maberipika ang kalidad ng mga libro sa mga iskwelahan.

Ang malaking pagkakaiba sa kalidad ng edukasyon sa mga siyudad at mga probinsya ay isa din sa mga nakikitang problema ni Montano. Sinabi nitong nakikita niya ang kakulangan sa mga silid-aralan, inprastraktura, libro at marami pang bagay sa iba’t ibang iskwelahan sa probinsya. “Mayroon pa ring mga batang kailangan umakyat ng bundok at tumawid ng ilog para makarating sa iskwelahan. Mayroon pa ring mahihirap na pamilya na hindi pa rin makayang tustusan ang halos libre nang edukasyon sa elementarya at sekundarya ng kanilang mga anak”, dagdag niya. Alam niyang ang pagtatapos ng mga anak nila lamang ang nakikitang paraan ng mga mahihirap na magulang para makaahon sa kahirapan. At dahil ang edukasyon at rural development ay dalawa sa mga plataporma niya, sinabi niyang ang dalawang sektor na ito ay makakaasa sa kanyang tulong pinansyal at pang-inprastraktura.

Para kay Montano, ang sector ng edukasyon ay isang investment na dapat paglagyan ng mas malaking bahagi ng budget. Sinabi niyang hindi siya nakakakita ang dahilan kung bakit binibawasan ng binabawasan ng lehislatura ang budget para sa edukasyon, na nagbunga ng kawalan ng pagbabago sa mga mababa at mataas na paaralan sa bansa, at sa pagtaas ng matrikula sa mga kolehiyo ng gobyerno. “Isipin n’yo na lamang ang isang magulang na maraming binibiling kasangkapan sa bahay kabilang na ang baril habang kakarampot na pera ang inilalaan para sa baon at pag-aaral ng mga anak. Ganyan ang tingin kong nangyayari sa mga proseso ng budget sa ating bansa”, wika ni Montano. Idinagdag din niya na ang kanyang tungkuling ipasa ang budget ng bansa ang kanyang gagamiting paraan para mas mapabuti ang edukasyon.

Ngunit sinabi din ni Montano na ang problema sa edukasyon ay hindi tungkol sa edukasyon lamang. “May mga ibang suliranin ang bansa na malaki ang epekto sa edukasyon tulad ng kahirapan, kawalan ng trabaho at child labor. Hindi dapat mawala sa equation ang mga ito sa pagpapabuti ng kabuuan ng edukasyon,” dagdag niya.

Reason #1

What our country needs right now is a senator who has a strong will to resist the temptation of money. A person who can stand up to what he believes in and fight for it. Someone who can forego of the opportunity to acquire wealth for the sake of his beliefs and principles. Cesar Montano has time and time again rejected offers of endorsements of products that he thinks is against his personal beliefs and principles (he never endorsed beers, liquors and cigarettes during his career as an actor). He has lost countless millions just because he wanted to stand firm on what he believes in, on what he was taught was right. If he can do that then, what could possibly prevent him from doing it again in the senate? Integrity and will power are two traits that I think is essential for one to serve in the senate, the rest can be learned and can be acquired. There are two reasons why a lot of senators are ineffective, it’s either they are incompetent or because money talks. I know you would agree with me that more often than not, it’s because of the latter.

Reason #2

Many might not know, but Cesar Montano came from very humble beginnings. Poverty is not new to him. Equipped only with the principles taught by his father and the fear of God taught by his mother, he strived so that he would be able to rise from that situation into a better future. He knows poverty from a personal viewpoint. Because of this personal knowledge, he too knows very well what is needed for us to fight poverty. Helping his fellowmen is not new to him; he has done this in his own little way. Imagine the possibilities if he is given a better way of helping others.

Reason #3

You may have heard him bluntly say that he will not use his own money for his campaign. One may think that this is a sign that he is not really serious about running, because he himself would not want to sacrifice. This is so far from the truth, so far from what he really meant. He does not want to spend his own money so that if ever he wins, he will not be compelled to gain back what he has lost. A vicious cycle that he wants to break.

Zamboanga City— Senatorial aspirant Cesar Montano is hopeful that peace will still be attained in Mindanao. Wearing a Muslim turban, the same headgear he used in his award-winning movie “Bagong Buwan” which tackled the century-old conflict between Christians and Muslims in the land of promise—Mindanao, Montano said “the problem in Mindanao is not about between Muslim and Christian per se. While there is a difference in religious belief, the root of the conflict emanates from social inequality.”

Montano said it is a pity that “development has not come to Mindanao in spite of the development aid that have poured in”. Worse, he said, is the innocent civilians are caught in the middle of the armed conflict. “The biggest casualty of the armed conflict are the children and the mothers who have to flee their homes and stay in refugee camps where the facilities are not adequate,” emphasized Montano when interview over the local radio after the Team Unity lunch at the residence of the Lobregats, their hosts in Zamboanga City.

Montano believes that “peace in Mindanao will come if a genuine and sustainable development program is pursued vigorously. These development programs should benefit not only the Christian settlers but our Muslims brothers as well,” reiterated Montano. He said the solution lies in an honest to goodness social justice program as captured in his C.E.S.A.R. agenda. He expounded on this by saying that his priority is the protection of children, especially those caught in the crossfire. He said he is also very much against children being used as combatants or even couriers by armed groups. Related to this, he bats for quality education in all levels for Mindanaons, one that will give them access to social mobility. “We need more school houses, not weapons of destruction,” said Montano. Montano also stressed the need for fast, efficient and effective delivery of basic social services like low-cost but decent housing, health care including affordable medicines and vaccines. Lastly, Montano said the law on agrarian reform should be implemented so that the Mindanao tillers of the land could enjoy the fruits of their labor. “Land reform”, he said, “should be complimented by the necessary infrastructure support like irrigation, farm-to-market road, warehouses, and even farm technology.”

Montano considers himself an adapted son of Mindanao. He said his exposure to the Mindanao situation while filming “Bagong Buwan” has opened his eyes to the harsh realities and complexities of the conflict. And like in that movie, he is hopeful that the solution will come in due time. He promised to prioritize Mindanao in the allocation of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) if elected as senator this May 14.