Candidates hit campaign trail

(UPDATES) CANDIDATES took their advocacies to the people Tuesday as the 90-day campaign period for senatorial candidates and party-list groups began. The administration's Senate slate, under the banner of Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas, officially launched its campaign in Ilocos Norte, rallying support in the political stronghold of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family. President Marcos himself led the campaign kickoff at the province's centennial arena to endorse a powerhouse lineup of senatorial candidates under the Alyansa banner. Sen. Imee Marcos, who earlier declined the endorsement of her brother, was also present during the rally. Aside from Senator Marcos, the administration's Senate slate also included former Interior secretary Benhur Abalos, Makati City Mayor Abby Binay, Sen. Pia Cayetano, Sen. Lito Lapid, former senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, Sen. Bong Revilla, former Senate president Tito Sotto, Sen. Francis Tolentino, former Social Welfare secretary Erwin Tulfo, and Deputy Speaker Camille Villar. Campaign manager and Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco said the Alyansa was not just a slate of candidates but a coalition of experienced leaders committed to real solutions. In a press conference on Tuesday, Tiangco said that each candidate on the slate has a proven track record and was ready to work alongside the Marcos administration to advance crucial reforms. With 434,114 registered voters, Ilocos Norte remains a critical base for the administration, which is looking to leverage Ilocano unity to build momentum ahead of the midterms. "This is not just a campaign launch — it's a reaffirmation of our commitment to build on the progress we have made under President Marcos Jr.," Tiangco said. "Ilocos Norte has always been a cradle of transformative leadership, and from here, we are sending a message: to continue delivering results for every Filipino," he added. As the campaign trail heats up, Tiangco said Alyansa would highlight its candidates' qualifications, achievements and shared vision of governance, positioning itself as the team that will deliver real results for the Filipino people. He said that Alyansa was framing itself as the ticket that will champion economic recovery, inflation control, job creation and government efficiency — key issues that will shape the May 2025 midterm elections. Ilocos Norte, the bailiwick of the Marcos family, served as a symbolic starting point for the Alyansa campaign, reinforcing its strong ties to the administration. The Ilocos Norte campaign launch marked the beginning of an aggressive nationwide push to introduce the Alyansa slate to voters, with upcoming sorties scheduled across key provinces and regions. Alyansa will also hold rallies in Iloilo City, Carmen in Davao del Norte and Pasay City, representing three other major regions in the country. If elected, Binay on Tuesday vowed to push for better health care and education and to increase the purchasing power of workers by removing taxes on overtime pay and 13th month pay. Binay bared her social agenda on Tuesday, the start of a 90-day campaign period for senatorial candidates and party-list groups for the May 2025 elections. "When government gives priority to better health and education, our people become more productive. And by removing taxes on overtime pay and 13th month pay, we help spur economic growth by increasing the purchasing power of our workers," Binay said in a statement. On her first day on the campaign trail, Binay proposed a comprehensive health care program that would provide free medicines and pharmaceutical products for hypertension, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and other diseases. Binay said she also wanted to provide free and unlimited dialysis and chemotherapy, promote preventive care, and improve health facilities, especially in the provinces. Makabayan in Manila Meanwhile, the Makabayan Bloc kicked off its rally in the Kartilya ng Katipunan shrine in Manila early Tuesday morning, promising to end "rotten politics" in the country. In its opening statement read by ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, the group said that it is beginning its campaign inspired by the ideals of Andres Bonifacio and other heroes. The group said that its campaign will be "different" from the traditional campaign that uses billions of pesos and government machinery.