THE administration’s “Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas” senatorial slate is set to enter a “critical” phase of its campaign for the midterm elections as it heads to other vote-rich provinces of Camarines Sur, Leyte, Pampanga, Cavite, and Laguna next month, the team’s campaign manager Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said yesterday.
“We are taking our campaign to key areas. Camarines Sur, Leyte, Pampanga, Cavite, and Laguna are among the biggest provinces in terms of voter population. These are places where Filipinos want leaders who will work for them, and Alyansa is stepping up to that challenge,” Tiangco said, saying that next month’s campaign stops will play a decisive role in shaping the outcome of the May midterm elections.
Before heading to key vote-rich provinces in March, the Alyansa slate will hold its last major campaign rally for the month in San Jose del Monte City on Friday.
Tiangco said the administration’s senatorial candidates have the “momentum,” coming from the strong reception in their first six sorties in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; Iloilo City; Carmen, Davao del Norte; Pasay City, Metro Manila; Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental; and Victorias City, Negros Occidental.
“Momentum is on our side, and we are just getting started. From Luzon to Visayas to Mindanao, Filipinos have shown that they want leaders who will push for stability, continuity, and progress. Alyansa is ready to deliver,” Tiangco said.
The Alyansa ticket is composed of reelectionist Senators Bong Revilla, Lito Lapid, Imee Marcos, Pia Cayetano and Francis Tolentino; former senators Vicente Sotto III, Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao; Rep. Erwin Tulfo (PL, ACT-CIS), and Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar, Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay, and former Interior Secretary and Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos.
As Alyansa enters the crucial campaign stretch, Tiangco said their team will continue to work on mobilizing massive public support and “reinforcing its message of strong, decisive leadership in the Senate.”
“We are not just campaigning—we are shaping the direction of the nation. The people’s trust is our greatest motivation, and Alyansa will not let them down,” he said.
Tiangco said Alyansa’s campaign is not just about winning seats “but about securing the future of the country by ensuring a strong, cooperative Senate that will champion economic development, job creation, infrastructure and social programs under the ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ vision.”
Binay underscored the need for what she called “pragmatic and well-funded legislation,” saying many national laws fail in the implementation phase because of “lack of foresight and financial support.”
“There’s often a disconnect when senators craft legislation without consulting the grassroots,” Binay told the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Inc. on Monday evening.
For one, the Makati mayor cited laws requiring local government units (LGUs) to shoulder financial assistance programs regardless of fiscal capacity.
“It is crucial to have someone coming from a local perspective. We have laws that work really well on paper, but implementation-wise, it’s not happening. For example, in Makati, when we pass an ordinance giving benefits, we make sure that there is money, it is sustainable,” she said.
The Alyansa senatorial candidate also lamented that some national policies are being implemented without first securing adequate funding, which she said places an unnecessary burden on the LGUs.
“So, that’s what I mean by being the voice of reason; being the voice that says, ‘that’s doable, that’s not doable’,” Binay said. “You think it’s common sense, but I realize that common sense is not very common.”
Former Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles said that while recent data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shows that his city’s total economic output ranks among the top 10 in the country, its per capita GDP lags behind other highly urbanized cities.
“Davao City is one of the nation’s largest economies among highly urbanized cities (HUCs), yet our per capita GDP doesn’t reflect this prosperity for every Dabawenyo. It’s time we bridge this gap and ensure that the benefits of our economic growth are felt by all,” he said.
He lamented that while Davao City generates significant wealth, “this is not translating into better incomes and opportunities for many of Davao City residents. For us, this is a challenge we must address.”
“Our goal should be clear: elevate Davao City’s per capita GDP into the top 10 nationwide. Achieving this means not just growing our economy but ensuring that every Dabawenyo benefits from this growth,” Nograles, who is running for city mayor, said.
Nograles said he envisions Davao City to thrive not only as a commercial hub but as a city where economic success reaches every household, and vowed to push stronger support for local businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, to drive job creation and sustain long-term development.
“Inclusive economic policies must be at the heart of Davao’s growth, ensuring that opportunities are accessible to all, not just a select few,” he said, adding that “investments in education, healthcare, and housing are equally crucial to improving the quality of life and making sure that Dabawenyos are empowered to participate in and benefit from the city’s progress.”
He said: “The strength of Davao City lies in our people — their resilience, creativity, and determination. By working together and implementing these strategies, we can transform our economic landscape and ensure that prosperity is shared by all.”
