Cabinet, Senate, Congressional spouses band together for Marawi
Press Release
October 18, 2017
The Senate Spouses Foundation, Inc. (SSFI), chaired by Lourdes “Bing” Pimentel, mother of Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, in cooperation with the DU30 Cabinet Spouses (DCS) and the Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc. (CSFI), recently launched “Puso Para sa Kaunlaran,” an organization to help the victims displaced by the war in Marawi get back on their feet.
The group is led by Pimentel together with Emily Alvarez, wife of House Speaker Alvarez and chair of the Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc., and Betty Medialdea, wife of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and chair of the DU30 Spouses Foundation.
The spouses met at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel last October 10, 2017 to discuss the setting-up of day-care and livelihood centers in all 96 barangays in Marawi.
This is the first time that three organizations representing the spouses of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Executive branch banded together to help in the government’s efforts in rehabilitating provinces devastated by war or natural calamities.
“By banding together and pooling our resources, we hope that we can help the mothers who were affected by the armed conflict in Marawi relearn skills and get back on their feet,” Pimentel said.
The plan to put up day care centers in Marawi was first suggested by members of the DCS. Pimentel said that the SSFI thought of setting up an additional room in the center to be used for livelihood trainings and seminars.
“While the children are studying, the mothers can learn skills in the other room. The aim is to make the center a place of learning for both mother and children,” Pimentel added.
Medialdea, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of preserving the culture and traditions of the people of Marawi in their efforts to rehabilitate the province.
Alvarez said the CSFI was more than willing to help craft projects and livelihood programs that could help enhance people’s skills.
“The Congressional Spouses have a project where we help the wives of inmates, and the inmates in the women’s correctional develop skills through different livelihood projects, such as making rosaries,” said Alvarez.
“If we see a product, we do our best to match it with its target market,” she added.
Pimentel said the spouses would concentrate on raising funds and resources to help in the construction of the learning centers and tapping other government agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Education (DepEd) for the skills training programs.
“We all agree that we want to help in the redevelopment of Marawi. With our vast network of friends, and with the help of both the public and the private sector, we can do that by building permanent centers.” Pimentel said.
“We also want to take this opportunity to spread the power of prayer through the Pasa Lord Movement. We want the people to know that although our goal is to help Marawi through our day care and livelihood center project, we are also there to help them rebuild their faith through prayers,” she added.
The Pasa Lord Prayer Movement calls all Filipinos regardless of faith to unite in praying for the country. It also asks for protection from foreign invasion, lawless acts, terrorism and war. It also seeks peace, unity, prosperity and transformation for the nation.
“Puso Para sa Kaunlaran” is co-chaired by Pimentel, Alvarez, and Medialdea. The other officials are Gladys Cruz, wife of Senator Joel Villanueva; Trina Biazon, wife of Muntinlupa City Representative Ruffy Biazon and Edith Lorenzana, wife of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, executive secretaries.
Lelis Pimentel, wife of Surigao del Sur 2nd District Representative Johnny Pimentel; Marisol Tugade, wife of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade; and Elvira Angara, wife of Senator Sonny Angara, treasurers; while Audrey Zubiri, wife of Senator Migz Zubiri; Nancy Almario, wife of Davao Oriental 2nd District Representative Joel Almario; Marissa Aguirre, wife of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre are auditors.
Board of Trustees include Aleta Suarez, wife of Quezon 3rd District Representative Danilo Suarez; Sol Albano, wife of Isabela 1st District representative Rodolfo Albano; Neil Llamanzares, husband of Senator Grace Poe; Camille Villar, daughter of Senator Cynthia Villar (tentative); and Kristine Dino, wife of Presidential Adviser for the Visayas Michael Dino. Jose Benjamin Angeles, husband of Senator Nancy Binay; Mylah Roque, wife of Kabayan Partylist Harry Roque and Malou Lopez, wife of Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, public relations officers. (AYA)