Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee on Friday announced his plan to run for Senator in the upcoming 2025 Senatorial elections as he took his oath as a member of the Aksyon Demokratiko founded by his fellow Bicolano, the late former Senator Raul Roco.
Lee took his oath at the Sheraton Hotel Manila Bay with Aksyon Demokatiko President and former Mayor Isko Moreno and Party Chairman Ernest Ramel Jr.
The Bicolano lawmaker sees joining Aksyon as an opportunity to widen his platform in pushing his core advocacies on food security, job creation, and quality and compassionate healthcare in the country.
“Bukod sa agrikultura, napakarami pang problema ng Pilipinas ang kailangan ng agaran at pangmatagalang solusyon. Nakahanda po tayong tumugon at gampanan ang mas malaking responsibilidad ng paglilingkod sa sambayanan,” Lee remarked.
“I want to use my experience in business and government to help more people nationwide. Kasama ang Aksyon, kumpiyansa tayong marami tayong mapagtatagumpayang laban para sa kapakanan, kalusugan at kinabukasan ng taumbayan,” he added.
Moreno expressed utmost support for Lee, saying: “Proud na proud kami, masaya kami, excited kami na one of the two contenders in the Senate Magic 12 galing sa Aksyon Demokratiko ngayon ay kaharap natin, ang ating magiging Senador Wilbert Lee. We are very proud of him, and excited for Aksyon partymates all over the country na we are going to participate in the Senate and local elections this coming 2025.”
In an earlier Facebook post, Ramel also expressed support to Lee: “He’s very passionate about his advocacies and very knowledgeable about many very important issues affecting majority of the Filipinos. May magiging katuwang na at tunay na kampeon na ang mga mahihirap sa Senado.”
In the latest OCTA Research’s “Tugon ng Masa (TNM)” Third Quarter 2024 nationwide survey conducted from Aug. 28 to Sept. 2, 2024 with 1200 respondents, Lee is among the top contenders in the upcoming 2025 Senatorial elections.
“Gusto nating higit pang makatulong, lalo na sa mahihirap nating kababayan. Sila na hirap bumili ng pagkain. Hirap bumili ng gamot. Hirap magbayad sa ospital. Hirap sa pamasahe, baon at gamit sa eskwela. Hirap makakuha ng ayuda. Hirap makahanap ng hustisya o katarungan. Hirap sa buhay na tila wala nang pag-asa pang makaahon. Kailangan ng lider na may takot sa Diyos, mabilis tumulong, at lalaban nang walang takot para sa lahat ng deserve nilang serbisyo,” the solon from Bicol said.
A staunch agriculture advocate, Lee is in the forefront of lowering food prices through genuine support to agriculture. As principal author, he is persistently pushing for the enactment of “Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act”, “Cheaper Rice Act”, “Post-harvest Facilities Support Act”, and “Kadiwa Agri-Food Terminal Act”, among others.
Lee also successfully led the 30% increase in PhilHealth benefits which was implemented last February 14. Currently, he is pushing for another 50% increase in PhilHealth benefits and if funds would suffice, an eventual decrease in members’ monthly contribution. He is also fighting for the inclusion of costly diagnostic tests in PhilHealth urgent care packages such as the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Computed Tomography (CT) scan.
“Mabibigat pang hamon at laban ang haharapin natin. Pero nananalig ako, kasama ang aking pamilya, ang Aksyon Demokratiko, ang sambayanan, lalong-lalo na, kasama ang ating Mahal na Panginoon, walang imposible, kaya nating makamit ang ating hangarin para sa kapwa at bansa,” Lee said.
“Murang pagkain. Tiyak na trabaho at sapat na kita. Libreng gamot at pagpapagamot, gawin na natin! Laban natin itong lahat!” he added.
