2013 senatorial candidate Joseph Victor Gomez Ejercito, more popularly known as JV Ejercito or JV Ejercito-Estrada is the son of former President Joseph Estrada and businesswoman, philanthropist, and current mayor of San Juan, Guia Gomez.
JV Ejercito served as mayor of San Juan City for three consecutive terms from 2001 to 2010 and afterwards ran for the position of congressman for the lone district of San Juan. Over the course of his term, JV Ejercito has authored or sponsored 161 bills or house measures. After only 2 and a half years as a legislator, 5 of these initiatives have been approved and transmitted to the Senate. These are HB 4225: Participatory Governance Through CSOs Empowerment Act of 2011, HB 4541: Mercury Exposure Information Act of 2011, HB 4565: Local Housing Boards Act, HB 5870: Cadastral Survey Act of 2012, HB 6144: Domestic Workers Act of 2012 or Kasambahay Bill.
He is one of the three United Nationalist Alliance senatorial candidates who entered the so-called Magic 12 survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS), which measure the likeliness of the candidates to make it to the list of probable winners. JV Ejercito was joined by fellow UNA candidates Miguel Zubiri and Nancy Binay.
His older half-brother Senate President Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada is expected to join the UNA campaign sorties and personally endorse the candidacy of Ejercito.
He is a graduate of Bachelor of Arts, Major in Political Science degree at De La Salle University, a recipient of the 2007 Ten Outstanding Young Men award for the category government and public service and is also a Commissioned Reserve Officer of the Philippine Marine Corps with the rank of Major. JV Ejercito is an adopted member of the Philippine Military Academy Class ’88 Maringal.
Platforms/Advocacy of JV Ejercito
JV Ejercito’s platforms/advocacy is inspired by a slogan “Ginhawa Para sa Masa, Aksyon ng Pagkakaisa.”
Key Thrusts
EDUCATION: Kalidad na Edukasyong Makabago at Akma sa Kumpetensiya ng Bagong Siglo
- Thrust: Education for 21ST Century Jobs
- Action: Attune Educational Program to Job Market priorities & provide measures that will boost Skill Set of Filipinos
JOBS: Trabaho para sa Ginhawa ng Pamilya at Komunidad
- Thrust: Job Generation to boost Family & Community
- Action: Strengthen and/or augment legislation that encourage investors and industrial growth, especially in sectors that are fitted to Filipino skills and aptitude
WORKER’S PROTECTION: Tamang Batas para sa Pag-alaga sa Karapatan at Kaginhawaan ng Manggagawa
- Thrust: Labor Laws that Protect Rights & Encourage Productivity
- Action: Review laws and strengthen implementing regulations to ensure workers’ rights are safeguarded
MINDANAO: Prioridad at Pondo para sa Mindanao
- Thrust: Priority Program and Funds for Full-Scale Mindanao Development
- Action: Legislate proper resource allocation for Mindanao according to potential gains and development goals
13-Point Platform
Action On Education
- Ensure Access of the Filipino Youth to Quality Higher Education By Developing Regional Educational Hubs. Improve access to quality higher education by pushing for legislation that mandates the development and maintenance of quality state universities and colleges in at least every region.
- Sustain Drive For Annual Increase in SUCs Budgets. Continue to work for the necessary increase in government funding for SUC’s to improve the quality of tertiary education.
- Work for Legislation that Invests in the Development of the Filipino Youth for Leadership and Nation- Building. Empower the youth through a comprehensive development agenda that focuses on key areas such as business, leadership and nation-building.
- Monitor K+12 Implementation with End-In-View of Identifying Improvement Areas and Enhancing the Competitiveness of the Filipino School Children. Improve the quality of implementation of the Basic Education Program through consistent review and ensure its competitiveness on the international level.
Action on Job Creation
- Work for Appropriate Mechanisms in the Educational System to Attune Course Offerings to Job Market Needs. Review the curriculum of Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s) to ensure its responsiveness to manpower demands of trade and industry.
- Boost Tourism Growth by Encouraging Investments Through Innovative Incentive Packages. Recognizing the need to improve the tourism industry by encouraging investments in systemic infrastructure development, government incentive packages should be competitively packaged to attract investors.
- Strengthen Legislation to Support the Investment and Growth of the Agriculture Sector. Stimulate the agriculture sector through a comprehensive program geared towards new technologies, infrastructure development and market access.
- Align Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Allocations Towards Programs That Increase Productivity and Lead to Job Creation Among The Poor. Reallocate a portion of the budget for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program to increase productivity through job creation and accessible education.
- Support LGU Initiatives That Enable Productivity and Improve Quality of Life Within the Local Communities. Support local government unit initiatives that aim to increase productivity and uplift the lives of their constituents.
Action on Worker’s Protection
- Strengthen Prtoective Measures for OFWs in Relevant Legislation, Particularly in Setting A Cap For Placement Fees. Promote the welfare of OFW’s especially in availing services and government support.
- Mandate Measures that Ensure Quality Working Environment in BPO Companies. Implement health and safety measures to ensure the well-being of BPO manpower.
- Work for the Full Implementation of the Kasambahay Bill. The next step after the passage and signing into law of the Kasambahay Bill is to ensure that its implementation is done in accordance with the intent and spirit of the law.
Action on Mindanao
- Work for Legislative Reforms That Ensure Development Resources and Government Priorities Are Allocated and Implemented for Mindanao. Promote economic growth and development in Mindanao through a comprehensive program that addresses key issues and maximizes the potential of the island.