• Special provisions on lump sum funds which states that savings from the said funds are deemed savings of the Executive Branch were amended to make … - Francis Escudero

Black propaganda and negative politics do not and will not work here or elsewhere, simply because of one thing - it is based on a lie. As Rex Gatchalian, spokesperson of Senator Grace Poe said earlier, "The recent story being circulated that Senator Chiz had abandoned Senator Grace is baseless and barefaced lie. If the people behind this story plan to drive a wedge between the two candidates, they should stop wasting their time as the two candidates continue to fight the battle together, side-by-side. The Poe-Escudero tandem remains strong despite all the black propaganda hurled against them. It's disgusting that certain groups continue to destroy our candidates - first individually and now as a tandem."

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues.

Last year, I filed Senate Bill Number 123 which penalizes bus drivers who commit criminal negligence in road mishaps with 20 years of imprisonment. The existing preventive policies require more teeth to achieve safety benefits. There is no guarantee to prevent all road accidents because of many factors including human, mechanical and environmental. But regulators like the LTO and the LTFRB carry the weight of preventing fatal accidents before these happen by strictly implementing the road safety fundamentals of all public utility vehicles. They have the responsibility to make all public transportation reasonably safe to drive and to travel on. These regulators must do their jobs. Stern measures need to be strictly implemented to ensure road safety. Conscious efforts from all sectors of government and the society should be at high level to avoid further loss of lives and damage to person and property. ‪