Miss Universe 2010 4th runner-up Venus Raj joins hands with United Nations Philippines as she becomes the newest ambassador for TINGOG 2015, a campaign centered on citizens' feedback recently launched in Tabaco, Albay. The Philippines is the first country in Southeast Asia to implement these measures, with the help of the United Nations Millenium Campaign (UNMC) and non-government organization Social Watch Philippines.
Using SMS and online feedback, TINGOG 2015 intends to encourage transparency in government by giving citizens the power to report the response time for delivering essential services from local government units. The campaign focuses on ensuring that services relating to three Millennium Development Goals established by UNMC in New York are efficient and in place by 2015. The goals are to reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, and combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases.
Venus, who grew up in poverty, says TINGOG is a great way of relaying citizens' problems, especially in terms of health. "Sobrang laking tulong. Kapag magsasaka ka lang and then ‘yong asawa mo ay simpleng housewife lang, hindi mo na iisipin ‘yong pambitamina ng mga anak mo. Ang iisipin mo, ‘yong kakainin nila araw-araw, iyong basic needs ng mga anak mo. At least kung mayroong mga ganitong proyekto, sila na ‘yong sasalo sa iba pang pangangailangan. (This is a big help. If you're just a farmer and your partner is just a simple housewife, you don't think about what to set aside for your kids' vitamins. What's on your mind is what they'll eat every day, what basic needs they have. At least with projects like this one, someone else will take care of these extra needs.)"
The beauty queen was present at a Solidarity Walk at the Tabaco City Terrace on October 18, along with more than 1,200 campaign participants.
Want to read about other stars and their advocacies? Check out this gallery:
- Sam Milby, Nikki Gil, and More Stars for World Vision's 12-Hour Famine Movement
- Daphne Oseña-Paez Talks about Maguindanao's Malnutrition Problem + How You Can Help
- Lea Salonga Urges Filipinos to Support UN One Billion Hungry Project
- Lea Salonga appointed United Nations anti-hunger envoy + 20 celebs and their causes
