Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a resolution calling on the Senate and the public to join in the observance and celebration of the World Day of the Poor on November 15, 2020.
(Senate of the Philippines / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Hontiveros, who filed Senate Resolution No. 550, noted that Pope Francis led the first “World Day of the Poor” in 2017 and has since led its annual global celebration.
“As a leading social and political institution in the country, we in the Senate, must recognize our shared responsibility for the promotion of social justice for the poor, and commit to enable policies that would put an end to poverty in all its forms,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
The senator said the resolution aims to remind people in government to do their part in eliminating, or at least, alleviate the plight of marginalized Filipinos and their suffering especially in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Ngayon nasa gitna tayo ng krisis, mas marami ang nagugutom at naghihirap. We can’t turn a blind eye to them. Now, more than ever, we need to sustain our compassion to help the poor and reach out to them,” she said.
“Bilang lingkod ng bayan, huwag natin silang kalimutan. Huwag natin silang pabayaan at patuloy tayong magsilbi para sa kanila gaya ng ating sinumpaan (As public servants, we should not forget them. Let’s not neglect them and continue serving the poor as we have sworn to do),” she added.
The lawmaker also cited the “World Day of the Poor” as an “invitation to prayer and solidarity with the poor who are suffering” and as an “expression of commitment to care for them and their many needs, unconditionally.”
“The World Day of the Poor aims to spread awareness about the needs of the poor and the disadvantaged,” she stressed.
“Isa itong paalala, hindi lang sa mga nasa katungkulan, kundi sa lahat, na huwag isantabi ang mga kababayan nating naghihirap, bagkus alalayan sila. (it serves as a reminder, not only to our government officials, but to all, that we should not set aside our poor fellowmen) Let's move forward together, hindi pwedeng may maiiwan (no one should be left behind),” she said.