Professional Experience

• Office of the Vice President

  2016–2022 Vice President

• Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs

  2019 Co-chair

• Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council

  2016 Chair

• Committee of Bicol Recovery and Economic Development

  2013–2016 Member

• Committee of Appropriations

  2013–2016 Member

• Committee on Revision of Laws

  2013–2016 Vice Chairman

• Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability

  2013–2016 Vice Chairman

• Third District of Camarines Sur, House of Representatives

  2013–2016 Congresswoman

• Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN) - Bicol Chapter

  1999–2012 Branch Coordinator and Lawyer

• Naga City Council for Women

  2008–2010 President

• Public Attorney's Office

  1997–1999 Attorney

• Universidad de Sta. Isabel

  1987–1997 Economics Professor

• Bicol River Basin Development Program Office

  1986–1987 Researcher and Economist

Significant Works/Projects

• Office of the Vice President of the Philippines

  2020 Vice President of the Philippines

  Launched a housing project called BAHAYanihan for the typhoon victims in 2020 to build safer houses, especially families living in danger zones

• Office of the Vice President of the Philippines

  2020–Present Vice President of the Philippines

  Initiated various programs during the COVID-19 Pandemic such as:

  • Swab Cab
  • Vaccine Express
  • Bayanihan E-Konsulta
  • Bayanihan E-skwela

• Office of the Vice President of the Philippines

  2018 Vice President of the Philippines

  Launched the Omasenso sa Kabuhay, a livelihood program where farmers affected by past typhoons are given technical training and equipment on how to innovate agricultural products, sell goods online, and are linked with commercial establishments to directly market their goods.

• Office of the Vice President of the Philippines

  2017 Vice President of the Philippines

  Launched the Istorya ng Pag-asa (INP), a platform to inspire and give hope by showcasing extraordinary stories of the Filipino’s strength.

• Office of the Vice President of the Philippines

  2016–Present Vice President of the Philippines

  Established the Angat Buhay Program: Partnerships Against Poverty to address the needs of families in the farthest and poorest communities in the country with the help of the public and private sectors.

  The program has six key advocacy areas: food security and nutrition, universal healthcare, public education, rural development, housing and resettlement, and women empowerment.

• Office of the Vice President of the Philippines

  2013–2016 Representative (Camarines Sur)

  Launched the Salud Mo, Kusog Ko, a wellness and health program for senior citizens that provides free medical check ups and medicine at the baranggay level.

  The program also provides rehab training for those in the baranggay to help senior citizens who experienced a stroke.

• House of Representatives

  2013–2016 Representative (Camarines Sur)

  Co-authored laws and amendments, including:

  • RA 10661: National Children’s Month Act
  • RA 10646: Charter of the Quezon City Development Authority
  • RA 10665: Open High School System Act
  • RA 10638: Extending the Corporate Life of the Philippine National Railways
  • RA 10707: Amending the Probation Law of 1976
  • RA 10643: Graphic Health Warnings Act
  • RA 10655: Repealing the Crime of Premature Marriage
  • RA 10742: Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act
  • RA 10649: Act increasing the burial assistance of veterans
  • RA 10883: New Anti-Carnapping Act
  • RA 10756: Election Service Reform Act
  • RA 10906: Anti-Mail Order Spouse Act

• House of Representatives

  2013–2016 Representative (Camarines Sur)

  Authored laws and amendments, including: RA 10708: Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act RA 10922: Economic and Financial Literacy Act

• Government Support for the Unemployed

  • Retraining and skills-matching program to produce more analytical, creative, and knowledgeable Filipinos in any field
  • Reform and improve the education system by increasing the budget, focusing on quality primary and secondary education so that Senior High graduates have enough skills to work; strengthen the STEM curriculum, especially women in STEM programs
  • Provide strategic support to State Universities and Colleges in the province and link them to the private sector
  • Properly implement Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET); ensure curriculum is updated with latest industry trends
  • Strengthen support between the academe and industry through talent pipeline programs for different fields
  • Partner with the private sector to support those who want to switch industries and students who want to experience work
  • Expand paid training programs; create stronger policy against illegal and abusive forms of internship
  • Create a Public Employment Program to employ about 1.8 million Filipinos
  • Establish an unemployment insurance program for Filipinos who will be laid off (without their fault); integrate and strengthen Social Security System (SSS) and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) benefits; provide an equivalent of 80% of their previous salary for 3 months

• End Work Discrimination

  • Implement the Anti-Age Discrimination Act (RA 10911)
  • Pass the Anti-Discrimination Bill (HB 3432)
  • Support programs for older people who want to contribute to the economy
  • Expand roads for women to participate in the economy, especially in STEM; ensure the implementation of women’s policies in the workplace
  • Support daycare centers for new mothers and single mothers who need to work by making the daycare system more professional, giving fair wages to daycare workers, and providing proper nutrition to infants and pre-school kids

• Support Small Businesses

  • Prioritize purchasing from MSMEs and farmers
  • Adjust government procurement law to open procurement processes to small businesses and social enterprises.
  • Pass the National Food Security bill whee the government will prioritize buying needed items for feeding programs from small farmers and fishermen
  • Connect small businesses to a wider market, similar to current projects under the Angat Buhay program
  • Make government processes more modern and digital, removed the need for businesses to have physical offices, simplify processes of paying of taxes and applying for business permits, and remove red tape to make doing business easier
  • Expand programs that support Filipino creativity such as innovative industries and business incubators; make sure that there are business incubators all over the country, and ensure that their knowledge is shared to small businesses

• Restore Trust in the Goverment

  • Remove the "palakasan" system, ensure a government that keeps its word, and make the market fair.
  • Remove corruption and syndicates that turned the government into their own businesses.
  • Restore and strengthen the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) under the Department of Trade and Industry to ensure the country’s global competitiveness through a government that listens and oversees talks between the government and private sector.
  • Prioritize, improve, and implement the Ease of Doing Business Act and establish the Anti-Red Tape Authority.
  • Make use of the Citizen’s Charter in order to clarify processes in significant industries that have a public service component (electricity, water, communications, etc.)
  • Examine and align policies to global standards; enforce clear and strategic legislative agendas that are focused on economic activities that need to be loosened, amended, or legislated (ex. Public Service Act).
  • Accelerate digital transition in order to speed up the government processes, as well as make it cheaper, more efficient, transparent, and reduce corruption.
  • Strengthen the Philippine Competition Commission so that it can effectively eliminate monopolies and unfair business practices.

• Strengthen the Philippine Industry

  • Develop the Marine industry by fixing regulations, promoting and improving Philippines marines, and strengthening shipbuilding in the country
  • Make the Philippines the center of the climate industry and set up green and resilient infrastructures that will provide jobs
  • Strengthen the tech industry in the Philippines by bringing in hi-tech firms and investing in development and research, and salaries for Filipinos
  • Relaunch the Manufacturing Resurgence Program with proper roadmaps to maximize budget and resources

Agriculture

• Decreasing import, increasing export

  For

  The Robredo-Pangilinan tandem expressed their aim to stop the syndicates behind the importation and smuggling of agricultural products which is killing the livelihood of Filipino farmers and fisherfolk.

• Increased budget for local livelihood, farmers, fishermen, etc

  For

  Robredo has vowed to tackle the pressing issues which plague farmers and fisherfolk. One of the points she hoped to address was to amend the Rice Tarrification Law which has lead to the increase of imported rice, which continue to be sold at high prices, while the buying price of palay remains depressed amid rising cost of fertilizers. Robredo has also emphasized the need better involve coconut farmers in the management of the coco levy funds.

Infrastructure

• Road improvements/expansion (skyways, etc.)

  For

  While acknowledging Duterte's Build Build Build program, Robredo stresses the priority of building “better” and targeting the poorest and most vulnerable to benefit from the infrastructure projects. She has also expressed her goal to prioritize building a nationwide active transport infrastructure specifically for regular Filipinos.

• Improved public transport (PUVs, Jeeps, etc)

  For

  When asked about the modernization of public transport, Robredo expressed consideration towards Filipino commuters said "We want to modernize our public transportation system, but we don’t want it at the expense of more burden for our commuters and drivers.  We should not force raw programs and policies that are not well-suited amid the context of the pandemic."

• Accountability of telcos for slow internet speeds

  Against

  Robredo said that the government should take incentivize telecommunications companies so they could more aggressively enter communities and "hardship areas" and address the slow internet in the country

Environment

• Advanced mining

  For

  Robredo said she supports responsible mining and will declare strict no-mining zones. “We will put up mechanisms so that the indigenous peoples who will be affected, the local communities will be affected, the mechanisms should provide that their voices should be heard,” added Robredo.

• Satisfaction with Climate Change Efforts (Is the PH doing enough)

  Against

  Robredo is pushing for renewable energy and wants the Philippines to actively participate in reducing carbon emissions.

• Dolomite beach

  Against

  Robredo slammed the government and said that the dolomite beach was a misplaced priority by the government. "It is very insensitive you will do that at the height of a pandemic when many people are starving and suffering" she said.

Family and Women's Rights

• Divorce

  Against

  Robredo stands by her anti-divorce stance and offered a compromise—to make annulment an easier process to declare a marriage null. 

• LGBTQ rights (same-sex union, SOGIE)

  Undecided

  In terms of same-sex marriage, Robredo is against the act due to religious beliefs. However, she has expressed support for same-sex unions. She relays, "I agree with what Pope Francis said that we’re all God’s children. I am all for civil unions like he is. We believe that every person has the right to be happy and they should not be punished for the choices they make."

• Legalization of Abortion

  Undecided

  While Robredo is personally against abortion due to her faith, she has stated that she is "open" to its decriminalization. "I would like to listen to more people about it. I'm open to more discussions about it." She also stated that banning it may promote unsafe medical practices.

Labor/Worker's Rights

• Increase of minimum wage

  For

  Robredo urges a review of the country's minimum wage in light of the rising fuel prices. She as proposed providing cash aid as well as suspending the excise taxes on fuel. She warns that delaying the process will lead to the worsening of hunger and “challenging times” especially for the farmers who suffer from the rising prices.

• Increased budget and support for OFWs

  For

  In efforts to aid OFWs and the creation of job opportunities in the country, Robredo stressed the need to improve the country’s economy to create more jobs. This is so that Filipinos would go abroad for work only by choice and not out of necessity. In relation to this plan, she expounds, "I believe this can be achieved. Filipinos are great. And if the government is trustworthy, the economy will grow, decent jobs that will match the pay and benefits offered abroad will become available here."

Global Politics

• Ukraine's Freedom from Russia (Russia-Ukraine)

  For

  When asked about the Ukraine-Russia war, Robredo expressed "I stand in admiration of the Ukrainian people’s courage and resilience, and am proud of their efforts to defend freedom and a rights-based order – ideals that the Filipino people share."

• Philippine-China Relations

  For

  "For China, we will collaborate with them in areas that we have no conflicts, such as trade and investments, much like what Vietnam has been doing." Robredo said about the relationship between China and the Philippines, "But when it comes to the West Philippine Sea, we cannot deal with them without their recognition of the arbitral ruling."

Previous Administration

• Drug war

  Undecided

  Robredo said that while she will continue the war against drugs, her efforts will focus more on rehabilitation and prevention rather than a "kill, kill, kill" strategy. "Because we saw over the past five and a half years, many have died but the question is, “Did the problem disappear?’ The answer is, “No.” she stated about the current drug war efforts.

• Current COVID and Disaster Response (lockdown, government measures, etc)

  Against

  Robredo has been known to take her own pro-active measures through the Office of the Vice President. Her Angat Buhay program included the Bayanihan E-Konsulta, Swab Cab, and Vaccine Express.

• Political Dynasties

  Against

  Robredo has expressed that she was in favor of the anti-dynasty law. She pointed out studies that show that in almost all areas where “fat dynasties” prevail, poverty incidence is also high, where the status quo prevents more room for changes in governance.