MANILA – Neophyte Senator Raffy Tulfo is committed to support incoming President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in carrying out the administration’s agenda.

Foremost among Marcos’ plans is reviving the economy as the world slowly beats the Covid-19 pandemic.

“’Yung (The) micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME), pag-jumpstart ng (jumpstarting the) economy, employment,” Tulfo said in a press conference at the Senate on Monday before joining the second week of the legislative process briefing “Executive Mentoring on Legislative Governance: Setting the tone for the first 100 Days in the 19th Congress”.

Tulfo said he is confident Marcos will do well as the 17th President.

“Meron siyang kelangang patunayan. ‘Yan ay para patunayan nga na mali yung kanyang mga critics (He needs to prove something. That is to prove that his critics are wrong),” he said.

Tulfo said he understood Marcos Jr.’s intentions when he and other senators met with him at his headquarters in Mandaluyong City recently.

The broadcaster-turned-senator clarified the President did not impose on them.

“Sinasabi lang niya ‘yung kanyang mga polisiya, ‘yung kanyang mga gustong gawin. And of course kami, bilang mga senador (He was just telling us his policies, what he wants to do. And of course us, as senators), we said we will support him,” Tulfo recalled.

He stressed that he will recognize the separation between the executive and the legislative branches.

“Nakita ko naman ‘yung plano niya. Tumutugma naman sa plano ng halos lahat sa amin (I saw his plans. They coincide with the plans of almost all of us),” Tulfo added.

The majority plans to give Tulfo the chairmanship of the Committee on Energy and the planned Committee on Overseas Filipino Workers

Senator Win Gatchalian, whom Tulfo will replace in the Energy committee, will retain the Committee on Basic Education and take over the Committee on Ways and Means from Senator Pia Cayetano. (PNA)