• ANDREW ALTAREJOS
Independent senatorial candidate Angelo De Alban bared his legislative agenda that is focused on protecting the rights and advancing the welfare of children with special needs, during a press conference in Bacolod City yesterday.
De Alban is a litigation lawyer with 17 years of experience and is teaching law courses at the University of Santo Tomas.
Among his priority programs if elected to the Senate are the expanded benefits for persons with disabilities and children with special needs such as free therapy and developmental assessment; livelihood programs for the family, as well as increasing funding for the Judiciary to combat corruption and to speed up resolution of court cases.
During an open forum, De Alban criticized the disproportionate allocation of public funds, noting that a significant portion of the national budget is directed toward infrastructure projects—often supplemented by additional executive department funding—while critical programs for vulnerable groups, such as children with special needs, remain underfunded. “Taxpayers’ money should prioritize human development, not just concrete projects,” he asserted.
He also stressed the need for equitable resource distribution, urging the government to address gaps in social services and uphold the rights of marginalized sectors.
The gathering was attended by stakeholders advocating the welfare of the children with special needs coming from Bacolod and Iloilo City.*
