Ahead of the midterm elections, Rolling Stone Philippines is taking a closer look at the Top 15 senatorial candidates based on the January 2025 surveys by polling firms Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia.
Senator Pilar Juliana “Pia” Schramm Cayetano has been active in the legislature for two decades and is a known advocate for women’s rights and protection in the Senate. With years of experience and many laws under her belt, what more can the re-electionist offer if she wins a Senate seat in the midterm elections? Here’s where she stands on the country’s biggest issues and what gaps she can still fill.
Current position: Senator (2004 – 2016, 2019 – present), Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chair (since 2024), Cayetano in Action with Boy Abunda co-host (since 2023)
Education: BA Economics (1985) and Bachelor of Laws (1991) from the University of the Philippines
Previous occupations: Taguig City Representative (2016 – 2019), Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (2016 – 2019), part owner of Slice Café (2012 – 2018), Maxi Group of Companies Chair (2001 – 2004), Philweb Corporation general counsel (2000), legal and corporate affairs officer (1996 – 2000), associate lawyer (1992 – 1995)
Affiliated parties: Nacionalista Party (since 2007), Lakas-NUCD (2004 – 2007)
Political Stances
Governance
As a lawmaker, Cayetano has supported legislation minimizing red tape and pushing for transparency within the government, backing laws like the Freedom of Information Act and the Anti-Red Tape and Ease of Doing Business Acts.
As a member of the Cayetano political family — which includes her father, former Senator Rene Cayetano, and brothers Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and former Taguig City Mayor Lino Cayetano — she has defended political dynasties in the past. According to a 2019 Rappler report, Cayetano said that she and her relatives in the government were elected.
“When you talk about dynasty, I always ask, ‘Let’s talk about governance,’” she said. “I always want to be judged on the work that we do.”
In 2021, Cayetano authored the law taxing Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO), which has been criticized for enabling POGO operations in the country. “I’d rather tax the POGOs than see a proliferation of gambling in the country,” she said. She added that the revenues from taxing POGOs could help with “much-needed health programs amid the pandemic, and contribute to the attainment of our Sustainable Development Goals.”
However, Cayetano was also one of the members of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means to sign a recommendation to cease POGO operations in the country in 2023.
Economy
Cayetano sponsored the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) law, which mandated the lowering of the Corporate Income Tax in 2021. According to her, the legislation would bring economic relief to Filipino businesses, especially micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Cayetano also authored the Tatak Pinoy Act, which aims to provide support to local industries and businesses.
Human Rights and Social Justice
Cayetano has been instrumental in legislation protecting and supporting women and children. She co-authored the Magna Carta of Women, the Anti-Mail Order Spouse Act, and the 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Act. She also sponsored the law repealing the crime of premature marriage, abolishing penalties for women who remarried within a certain period after the end of a previous marriage. She also backed the Anti-Torture Act, the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, and the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act.
Cayetano also authored the Inclusive Education for Learners with Disabilities Act, which requires public schools to provide learners with special needs “free basic and quality education.”
As early as 2015, Cayetano has been supportive of divorce legislation in the country. According to Inquirer, she called the lack of a divorce law in the Philippines “discriminatory,” citing domestic violence against women, but she added that men can also fall victim to domestic violence. In 2019, the Family Code was amended when she introduced legislation recognizing foreign divorce in the Philippines. She also authored and sponsored different versions of the divorce bill in 2018 and 2024.
Cayetano has not given her stance on LGBTQ+ rights and the SOGIE Equality Bill.
Healthcare
Cayetano has authored several policies surrounding healthcare, such as the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act, the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act, the COVID-19 Benefits and Allowances for Health Workers Act of 2021, and the Reproductive Health (RH) law. She also authored the Mental Health Law, which contains provisions for drug rehabilitation.
National Security and Foreign Policy
Where Cayetano stands in the Philippines’ territorial disputes with China is unclear. In a speech at the 2023 Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), Cayetano emphasized the need for “cultivating relationships” in diplomacy. “China is a member of APPF, they have a different stand on how to handle the West Philippine Sea issue, we have a very strong stand, but we were able to come up with language,” she said.
In 2020, Cayetano voted to approve the Anti-Terror Act, which critics feared would enable red-tagging and abuse of the law by law enforcement agencies.
Environment and Disaster Preparedness
In 2021, Cayetano filed the Sustainable Forest Management Bill, which sought to penalize harvesting, gathering, collection or possession of forest resources from protected lands, destroying forest lands, using land unauthorized, and converting tree parks and green spaces without authority.
She has not yet been involved in discussions or legislation regarding disaster preparedness.
Disinformation
Cayetano has advocated against online disinformation in the health sector, specifically about vaccinations and immunization. She urged parents, particularly mothers, not to heed “negative claims about vaccination” on social media platforms like TikTok. “Listen to the doctors and the health workers to know what’s best for your children,” she said.
Infrastructure Development
In August 2024, Cayetano sponsored the Philippine Natural Gas Industry Development Act, which sought to develop local natural gas infrastructure and prioritize locally sourced gas over imported liquefied natural gas. She said in her sponsorship speech that using locally sourced natural gas as a “renewable energy source” will help the country shift from imported coal and oil.
Youth and Culture
Cayetano sponsored the Iskolar ng Bayan Act and authored other youth and education-oriented laws such as the Ladderized Education Act, Youth Entrepreneurship Act, and the Foster Care Act. She also sponsored the Cultural Mapping Bill, which sought to encourage local government units to inventory and preserve their cultural assets.
Sara Duterte Impeachment
Cayetano’s stance on Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment has not been made public.
