MANILA — Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday (May 27) emphasized the need for leaders who think long-term and invest early in the nation’s future, saying this kind of leadership is crucial for lasting progress.
Speaking at the oath-taking of SSS-GSIS Pensyonado Party-list Rep. Rolly Macasaet and San Jose, Tarlac Councilor Mico Macasaet in the City of Taguig on May 27, 2025, Cayetano highlighted the value of early preparation both in public service and in personal financial responsibility.
“The younger we start our people, citizens, and leaders in investing, the sooner they start thinking of not their immediate future lang but their whole life — the better for the whole country,” he said.
Cayetano said this principle applies not just to personal savings or pensions but to how public servants approach governance.
“Ang mabilis na panahon hindi dahilan para magmadali sa trabaho. Ang kailangan natin ay mga pinunong iniisip hindi lang ang bukas kundi ang mga susunod na dekada,” he said.
Cayetano expressed support for Rep. Rolly’s legislative agenda, particularly proposals to expand pension coverage for job order (JO) workers and barangay officials.
“All the JOs po — over 2 million of them nationwide — are not members of neither SSS nor GSIS… I will just amend the law a bit,” Rep. Rolly said in his speech.
“After serving or being barangay kapitans, kagawats, tanods for 20–30 years of their lives… when they retire, they go back to the poverty level po. Senator, I will file a bill with you so that they can at least be members of the SSS man lang,” he added, addressing Cayetano.
The senator said he is ready to help push these reforms in the Senate and commended Rep. Rolly’s integrity and deep understanding of the country’s pension systems.
He also welcomed the symbolic decision of the Macasaets — a father-and-son tandem — to take their oaths together in Taguig, calling it a meaningful representation of continuity in service and values.
“In the spirit po of honoring our mothers and fathers, our lolos, lolas, we chose to do the oath-taking dito sa teritoryo n’yo… Para y’ung symbolism natin ng one generation after the other nandoon. Ang nag-oath today ay hindi lang si Kuya Rolly, kundi pati si Mico,” he said. (UnliNews Online)
