Press Release
November 30, 2009

Pia 'pedals' to Comelec to file candidacy for reelection

Opposition Senator Pia S. Cayetano filed her certificate of candidacy with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Monday in her trademark healthy and eco-friendly way.

Veering from traditional political motorcades, Cayetano made a unique statement for simplicity and the environment by taking a bicycle to the Comelec office to file her candidacy for reelection. She was accompanied by a contingent of 100 "Pinay In Action" cyclists.

"My biking is symbolic of the advocacies I have fought for in the Senate, including health, the environment and women empowerment. There's much work to be done in these fields, prompting me to go for a second term in 2010," said Cayetano, a lawyer, triathlete (swimmer, cyclist and runner), and mother of two.

The lady senator, an independent, will run as guest candidate under the Nacionalista Party (NP) slate led by standard bearer Sen. Manny Villar and running-mate Sen. Loren Legarda.

Cayetano's group took off from the SMX parking lot at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay to the Comelec office in Intramuros. She later joined the entire NP contingent headed by Villar which attended mass at the Manila Cathedral before proceeding to the Comelec.

Consistently ranking in the top three of senatorial surveys of various polling agencies, the youthful senator has been one of the most efficient lawmakers in the 13th and 14th Congress.

Cayetano shepherded the passage of several landmark laws on health and the environment, including the Cheaper Medicines Act (RA 9502), Food and Drugs Administration Act (RA 9711), Anti-Hospital Detention Act (RA 9439), Anti-Rabies Act (RA 9482), Oil Pollution Compensation Act (RA 9483), Renewable Energy Act (RA 9513) and the Environmental Awareness and Education Act (RA 9512), among others.

She was principal author of the Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710) and has consistently pushed for a bigger share for public hospitals, education and the environment in the national budget.

Cayetano batted for workers' rights and initiated a Senate probe into the mysterious deaths of scores of Filipino laborers at the Hanjin shipyard in Subic, Zambales. She also fought for the inclusion of earmarking provisions to assure funds for social services when Congress passed the controversial Expanded-Value Added Tax and the Sin Tax Laws four years ago.

In 2008, she brought honor to the country after being unanimously elected President of the Coordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). This is the highest position achieved by an Asian legislator in the history of the IPU, which is regarded as the United Nations of parliaments around the world.

Cayetano has been known to use sports events to promote various advocacies, including "Bike for Hope," which promotes public awareness on health and environmental issues and the annual "Pinay In Action" run for women empowerment.

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