Marcos again in Malacanang? Senator weighs in 2016 plans

By ROBERT R. REQUINTINA

BATAC CITY, Ilocos Norte – Marcos again in the Palace?
Why not! Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., one of the most popular senators in the country,
has been urged to run for president in 2016.
Groups wanted him to follow the footsteps of his father former President Ferdinand Marcos and continue the legacy of the Marcoses. And the senator is fit to run the Palace, so they say. Now for the big question: “Is Senator Bongbong ready to run president in 2016?’’ Senator Bongbong initially hinted at plans for 2016, in recent interviews. He did not divulge any details but observers believe he would run for the Senate, Vice President or even President.

“I will be a candidate for something but you know, what is the definition of good luck? The way I learned it, good luck is being ready when the opportunity presents itself. So, who knows, I might be lucky in 2016,” said Senator Bongbong, who just turned 57 last September 13.
Still bombarded with the same question, Senator Bongbong downplayed political plans for 2016, saying it is too early to discuss it. “Hindi ko pa masyadong iniisip ang 2016. Ang dami-daming issue na nakaharap sa atin at tinatapos ko lang itong mga trabaho natin. Alam n’yo naman na ang favorite sports ng mga Pilipino ay pulitika. Pero para sa akin masyado pang malayo ang 2016 para pag isipan ang napakalaking desisyon na yan. Siguro antayin na lang natin yung papasok sa campaign period. Ang problema pag-maagang napapag-usapan ang eleksyon, ang trabaho natin nabibigyang kulay ng pulitika. hindi naman tama yun. Marami nagsasabi angh problema sa pilipinas too much democracy hindi tutoo ‘yan. Ang problema too much politics. Bawasan na natin ang pulitika at gawin na muna natin ang trabaho natin,’’ said Senator Bongbong.
If new reports about the candidates for the presidency would be taken seriously, then Senator Bongbong would be pitted against Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada. With track records as basis for choosing the next leaders, then by all means Senator Bongbong is qualified to run even for higher office. His achievements speaks of him as a knowledgeable and accomplished personality in his field.
Senator Bongbong started at the young age of 23 when he won as Vice Governor of Ilocos Norte. After one term as Vice Governor, he ran and won for Governor in 1983. In 1992, he ran for Congress and won a seat in the Lower House, representing the Second District of Ilocos Norte. In 1998, he made a comeback as Governor of Ilocos Norte and completed three terms. He returned to Congress in 2007 and was elected Deputy Minority Leader.
In 2010, he ran for the Senate and won, receiving over 13 million votes. He was Chairman of the Committee on Local Government and the Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlements during the 15th Congress.
Under the leadership of then-Governor Bongbong Marcos, Ilocos Norte was transformed from a third class to a first class province. Agricultural output grew exponentially. After stabilizing the price of rice, the local government under then-Governor Bongbong improved levels of rice production from 145,000 metric tons to almost 200,000 metric tons. Livestock production also grew, with swine production doubling from 5,000 Metric Tons to almost 10,000 Metric Tons. Today, Ilocos Norte boasts of a surplus in production of both rice and corn.
The province has also become a model for public health care, with all residents provided with health insurance. Improvements in infrastructure helped transform Ilocos Norte, especially the town of Laoag, into a major tourist destination. Now, the province is also at the forefront of developments in energy.
Aside from the fact that Ilocos Norte is one of the few provinces that can boast of 100 percent electrification in all of its 557 barangays, it is also the first province to develop wind electricity. Bangui,
Ilocos Norte is home to the first wind farm in Southeast Asia.
Believing in the importance not only of educating but also of empowering the youth, Senator Bongbong authored the law creating the Philippine Youth Commission. He is also responsible for the mandate to adopt English as the principal language of instruction in the Philippine educational system, and as a tool for Filipino competitiveness in education.
Inspired by the improvements in tourism in Ilocos Norte, Senator Bongbong has also initiated movements to use Philippine tourism as major strategy for economic development. Aware that marketing alone will not achieve this, he has pursued laws for the adoption of a comprehensive infrastructure modernization program as key to full economic development.
Recognizing the country’s territorial integrity, Senator Bongbong was also responsible for the passage of the Philippine Baselines Act, which defines the boundaries of the national territory according to international law while retaining the country’s claims to lands under dispute with other nations. Aware of the importance of human capital, Senator Bongbong has also initiated laws for the upgrading of the Filipino overseas workers program, which was initiated by his father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos.
At present, Sen. Bongbong is Chairman of the committee of public works in the Senate. He led efforts for the relief and rehabilitation of areas and victims affected by typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), as well as investigations for government accountability in the application of relief and rehabilitation funds.
Senator Bongbong is the only son of the late President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos and Rep. Imelda Romualdez Marcos. He has two sisters:
Irene Marcos-Araneta and Imee R. Marcos, now Governor of Ilocos Norte. He earned his Bachelor of Art in Political Science, Philosophy and Economics from Oxford University in England in 1978. He got his
Master’s in Business Administration at the Wharton School of Pennsylvania in the United States. He is married to lawyer Louise Cacho Araneta with whom he has three sons: Ferdinand Alexander III, Joseph Simon and William Vincent. His primary and secondary education diplomas are from De La Salle Greenhills and the Worth School in England.
Senator Bongbong’s political plans for 2016 remain a guessing game. For now, Senator Bongbong has so many things to be thankful for, especially the news that his son Simon got into Oxford University in England.