BALANGA CITY, Bataan – Rep. Albert S. Garcia of Bataan’s Second District on Friday hailed the decision of the Department of Trade and Industry to send boxing icon and Saranggani Congressman Manny Pacquiao to the United States to lobby for the passage of the Save Our Industries Act (Save Act).
Garcia, House Committee chair on Trade and Industry, said the choice of the People’s Champ to go with Philippine Trade Attache in seeking the support of legislators in Washington was a good move.
“Congressman Pacquiao has brought prestige to the sagging image of our country and I am confident that he has the convincing power that American lawmakers will not disappoint him,” the Bataan solon said.
He said that as early as May 17, 2011 just after the victory of Pacman over Shane Mosley, he has written Pacquiao about the Save Act based on the pronouncement of the Saranggani solon that his biggest fight is not boxing but poverty.
“Inspired by your admirable statesmanship, I wish to join you in this public endeavor of yours in eradicating poverty. I respectfully suggest that our campaign to wipe out poverty begin by throwing our support for the passage of the Save Act in the U.S. Congress,” Garcia told Pacman in his letter.
The Bataan lawmaker said that it has been proposed by various sectors that a meeting of Philippine legislators and government officials with key US senators and congressmen be held to pave the way for the immediate consideration and subsequent enactment of the Save Act.
“It has also been unanimously proposed that Pacquiao and other key members of the House of Representatives become part of the Philippine delegation,” Garcia said.
He also said that it has been expected that the proposal when enacted into a US law will bring in $3 billion in annual garments exports and create new jobs in the Philippines.
Like Trade Undersecretary Cristino Panlilio, Garcia believes that the passage of the Act would significantly benefit Philippine garment manufacturers.
He even expressed hopes that with the approval of the Save Act by American legislators, investors in the garment industry will be back to the former Bataan Economic Zone turned into Freeport Authority of Bataan (FAB).
Garment manufacturers used to be a big part of the then Bataan Export Processing Zone.
Garcia was the principal sponsor of the bill that created the Area of the Freeport Authority of Bataan (AFAB) in Mariveles, Bataan.
