Liza Maza Files Candidacy For Senator, Brings Issues Of Women And Masses To The Next Level
Rep. Liza Maza, National President of Gabriela Women's Party and National Vice Chairperson of Makabayan Coalition, today filed her certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections as an independent candidate, together with Rep. Satur Ocampo.
“I am running as a senatorial candidate to further articulate the interests of marginalized women and the masa in the realm of national politics. I believe it is high time that women progressive candidates enter the senatorial elections. A woman's place is not only in the House (of Representatives), but also in the Senate,” Maza said.
Maza said her top agenda are her current advocacies during her term as representative of the sole women's party in the 14th Congress, including the Reproductive Health Bill and comprehensive health care for women and their families; and increased women's meaningful participation in politics and governance.
Maza, a known leader of the women's movement in the country, was the author of landmark laws for women during her three terms as Gabriela representative in Congress such as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act. She also co-authored the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act and the recently passed Magna Carta of Women.
The Gabriela solon further stated that she will pursue the legislated wage and salary increases for workers and employees; security of tenure for workers in the private and public sectors; repeal of the laws enacting the Expanded Value Added Tax (EVAT) and the Oil Deregulation Law to lower prices of basic commodities; the passage of measures for the moratorium on debt payments and zero-tolerance for corruption to provide state funds for priority social services such as health, education and housing for the poor and marginalized sectors.
Maza stressed that they will continue to fight for transparency and accountability in governance and vows to prosecute President Arroyo and all those involved with her corrupt administration once she is out of power.
Her platform, she said, can be summarized as the “ABAKADA ng Masa” --- Abot-kayang presyo ng bilihin at serbisyo, Babae, karapatan at kagalingan, KAbuhayan at KAlusugan, Disenteng pabahay at Demokrasya.
Maza and Ocampo were accompanied by volunteers and supporters from various communities and institutions in Metro Manila as well as those from the progressive partylists. ###
