MANILA, Philippines — PISTON National President Mody Floranda, along with Kamaday and national urban poor leader Mimi Doringo, announced their senatorial bid on Monday.
In separate announcements, Floranda and Doringo filled the eighth and ninth spots in the Makabayan coalition’s senatorial lineup.
According to Floranda, the “ongoing cycle of exploitation” shows the need for more inclusive representation in the Philippine government.
“Tinatanggap ng mga tsuper ang hamon ng Makabayan. Kakatawanin natin ang sektor ng public transport sa loob ng Senado. Isusulong natin ang kapakanan ng ordinaryong tsuper, operator, at mamamayan,” Floranda said in his speech in Liwasang Bonifacio.
Floranda began working as an FX driver in 1998 and joined PISTON in 1998.
He was elected as the National President of PISTON in 2019.
Floranda said that should he be elected, he will advocate for laws to halt the public utility vehicle phaseout, promote national industrialization, support local manufacturers, and nationalize the oil industry.
In a separate statement, Doringo said that there should be poor in the senate, adding that there is an “unending cycle of exploitation” and “worsening conditions for the Filipino poor.”
There is also a lack of voices who truly understand the suffering of the Filipino poor.
“Kailan ba nagkaroon ng totoong kinayawan ang maralitang kagaya ko sa gobyerno? Dapat maralita, dapat boses na nabuhay sa lansangan. Dapat may kadamay ang mahihirap sa Senado,” said Doringo in a statement.
Doringo is a vendor and leader of Kadamay, an alliance of urban poor organizations in the Philippines.
She announced her candidacy after Floranda, taking the ninth spot in the Makabayan slate.
The current Makabayan slate includes:
- Bayan Muna Representative and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Chairperson Teddy Casiño
- Alliance of Concerned Teachers Representative France Castro
- Gabriela Partylist Representative Arlene Brosas
- Kilusang Mayo Uno Secretary General Jerome Adonis
- Former Gabriela Partylist Representative and former National Anti-Poverty Commission Chairperson Liza Maza
- Pamalakaya Vice Chairperson Ronnel Arambulo
- Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas Chairperson Danilo Ramos
According to the Commission on Elections, the midterm election is set for May 12, 2025.
National and local candidates may file their certificates of candidacy from October 1 to 8.
