'Underdog' Monsour del Rosario vows aid for health workers, farmers if elected senator

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11) — Should he win in the 2022 polls, senatorial aspirant Monsour del Rosario will seek more benefits for health workers in a bid to convince them to stay in the country.

The former Makati representative told CNN Philippines' New Day on Thursday that he wants to help health workers, especially those who have no choice but to leave the country for better opportunities abroad.

He noted that other countries acknowledge the competence of Filipino nurses.

"One of the laws or platforms that I really want to push is to help our frontliners, especially the nurses, so they can stay in the Philippines, give them a better salary, give them better benefits," Del Rosario said. "We all realize how important they are during this pandemic."

The aspiring senator said he would also collaborate with doctors to gain more insights on how to better respond to the health crisis.

Del Rosario also vows to push for agricultural measures that will uplift the lives of farmers.

"I was born in Manila, I was raised in Negros Occidental. I am basically an Ilonggo probinsyano and agriculture is part of my life growing up," he ssaid. "I want to help farmers. I want to help them with their work."

When asked for his stand on certain issues, Del Rosario said "yes" to easing access to the statement of assets liabilities and net worth of public officials, lifting foreign ownership limits, holding peace talks with communist rebels, and asserting the country's sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.

He is also in favor of reimposing death penalty, but only on those involved in illegal drugs trade.

Del Rosario is running under Partido Reporma and is part of the senatorial slate of the tandem of Senators Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto.

Del Rosario acknowledges the challenges of being an "underdog" running against veteran opponents, but he said he would not back down from the fight.

"I know I'm going up against senatorial veteran candidates that have been there, seasoned," he said. "I know I am the underdog. I know I'm the dark horse, but that's fine with me because I've always been an underdog most of my life."

"Sometimes we fall and sometimes we deliver. And we rise to the challenge,” he added.