NextGen Day

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo R. Duterte believes Astravel “Astra” Pimentel, a senatorial aspirant and former executive director of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, deserves a seat in the Senate for her “basic knowledge of community life.”

“With her fundamental knowledge of community life, Si Astra’s presence in the Senate will go a long way to help the less privileged na sa taong Pilipino,’yung nakakalimutan natin (Filipinos, those we tend to forget),” he remarked in the third installment of The President’s Chatroom, which aired on Monday night.

Duterte asked Pimentel, a distant relative of former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., why she decided to run for senator during the program.

For the longest period, she remarked, Mindanao “didn’t have a woman senator.”

“The first and only time Mindanao produced a woman senator was in the person of Santanina Rasul 35 years ago, and it never happened again na mayroong babaeng senador mula sa (that a female senator was elected from) Mindanao,” Pimentel added.

She also intended to be the Senate’s “voice” for indigenous peoples (IPs), as she is a member of the IP community.

“Talaandig and Higaonon tribes were my parents. My lolo (grandfather) was of Maranao and Maguindanao descent. She went on to say, “I found it extremely charming para sa kin (for me) that there should be a voice among the IPs in the Senate since there are so many issues that need to be addressed.”

If elected to the Senate, Pimentel said she would focus on tourism to create jobs and reduce poverty.

“Tourism will benefit our economy in more ways than one. Because successful businessmen and ‘yung mga maliliit natin na mga (our little) businessmen ay magkakaroon ng oportunidad para sila ay lumawak ang kanilang negosyo, tourism will help MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) (will have the opportunity to expand their business). “The more tourists we have, the more chances people have to have food on their table,” she explained.

Pimentel also stated that she will try to broaden Republic Act 10931, generally known as the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, in order to create possibilities for students who did not finish first in their class.

“Iyon po ngayon ngayon ngayon ngayon ngayon ngayon ngayon ngayon ngayon “Scholarships should not be limited to students who nagpakita ng kanilang katalinuhan (who demonstrate intelligence),” she asserted.

Pimentel also stated that she will advocate for IP children, particularly those who live in upland areas, to have access to transportation.

“The government’s infrastructure initiative should be extended to the most remote locations.” Dapat mayroong (there should be) access to road wherever there are Filipinos living in the rural,” she added.

She stated that she will advocate for steps to improve agricultural output by constructing rural infrastructure.

She also mentioned that farmers will be provided training courses and seminars to help them understand more about various elements of agriculture.

Pimentel worked as an assistant to the Chief of Staff in the Office of Senate President “Koko” Pimentel, the son of Nene Pimentel, prior to her appointment as executive director of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas.

She was also the PDP-Laban (Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan) Affairs Coordinator.

Pimentel is running under the PDP-Laban banner.

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