FORMER Vice President Leni Robredo has expressed her gratitude to senatorial candidate Erwin Tulfo for his consistent efforts to support the Bicol Region, particularly Naga City, and for his effective collaboration with the Angat Buhay Foundation, especially during his time as Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Tulfo visited Robredo at her residence in Naga on Saturday, following a market tour at the Naga People’s Mall—the city’s main public market—where he received a warm welcome from residents. Robredo hosted Tulfo for a hearty lunch, personally welcoming him to her home.
During their meeting, Robredo thanked Tulfo for his proactive assistance to Bicolanos and his support for Angat Buhay, the non-government organization she founded focused on poverty alleviation. She particularly cited his help during calamities.
She recalled the swift response from Tulfo and the ACT-CIS Partylist during Typhoon Kristine, when they donated 2,000 sacks of rice and P1 million in cash assistance to victims.
Robredo also highlighted Tulfo’s support for Angat Buhay during his DSWD tenure in 2022, noting the fast accreditation of the foundation.
“Noong Secretary pa siya ng DSWD, napakalaking tulong niya sa Angat Buhay. In fact, nabisita ko siya sa opisina niya sa DSWD, maganda yung synergy ng Angat Buhay sa DSWD kasi kami ‘di ba, anti-poverty rin?” Robredo shared.
“Malaki ang naitulong ng leadership niya—hindi kami nahirapan sa pagkuha ng accreditation. Kapag pumupunta kami sa lugar at may sakuna, laging merong coordination with DSWD kaya grateful naman ako,” she added.
In response, Tulfo expressed his appreciation for Robredo’s warm welcome and recognition of his public service. He emphasized that serving the people should transcend political affiliations.
“We really appreciate that na-appreciate ni VP Leni ang ginawa natin noon. Since then, I believe that this is the best practice: Huwag ka tumingin sa kulay. Kasi kapag tumingin ka sa kulay, walang mangyayari, kawawa, may maiiwan. Kailangan, tingnan mo ang lahat. At the end of the day, we are all Filipinos, so we need to set aside political colors,” Tulfo said.
