VP Leni offers new recommendations on rebuilding PH economy
Screengrab from VP Leni Robredo Facebook Page Live Video
Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday laid out various recommendations on opening the economy without compromising the welfare of struggling Filipinos and frontliners.
Robredo said the fund allocated in the Bayanihan 2 measure to overcome the pandemic is not enough.
“Government must spend more, spend efficiently, and spend quickly, with the utmost sense of urgency, as if our economic survival depends on it—because it does. And yet, heto tayo, nakasandal pa rin sa isang pre-COVID budget (here we are still depending on a pre-COVID budget),” the vice president said.
She reiterated the establishment of a more comprehensive plan against the pandemic, stressing that contact tracing must be standardized.
The vice president noted that the Philippines falls short of the ideal minimum contact tracing coverage of 37 individuals per one infected person. In Metro Manila, only five people per each infected person are being traced.
Robredo said the government must use an efficient tracing application to standardize contact tracing so that local government units (LGUs) won’t need to work on their own. She also suggested that LGUs hire contact tracers to help in the wider coverage of tracing.
Robredo also said businesses must be empowered to shift their product lines, services and business models to those that can help in battling the pandemic.
“Instead of preventing these industries, like the garment industry, which is aiming to shift its operations in creating personal protective equipment (PPE), why not empower them? Provide them step-by-step guidelines,” the vice president said.
She added that the government can also establish a facility where PPEs can be tested so that they no longer need to rely on foreign medical grade testing.
Robredo also proposed that a program be set up to help community-based businesses establish their online presence. An online digital payment system must be set up for MSMEs.
To address hunger during the pandemic, Robredo proposed the distribution of P5,000 cash relief to 10 million poorest families every month for four months, which will cost a total of P200 billion.
“Maliit na halaga ito para mailigtas sila mula sa gutom. Dalawang beses nang nakapagbigay ng ayudang pinansyal ang pambansang pamahalaan. Sang-ayon ang maraming eksperto na dapat pang maglaan ng dagdag na pondo para mai-extend ito (This is just a small amount to save people from hunger. The government has given cash aid twice and experts agreed that another fund must be allocated to extend this),” Robredo said.
In order to combat hunger, ample support to farmers, fisherfolks, and livestock farmers must also be provided. Development of infrastructure such as farm-to-market roads and cold storage facilities to help them increase their produce must also be expedited.
Robredo also said the agricultural sector is the most resilient sector in the economy and deserves much support.
The vice president also called for improvement in digital infrastructure by building shared cell sites in places suffering from poor signal.
She said with better internet access, more students can participate in online classes and more people will be able to work to restore the economy.
Robredo said the fund allocated in the Bayanihan 2 measure to overcome the pandemic is not enough.
“Government must spend more, spend efficiently, and spend quickly, with the utmost sense of urgency, as if our economic survival depends on it—because it does. And yet, heto tayo, nakasandal pa rin sa isang pre-COVID budget (here we are still depending on a pre-COVID budget),” the vice president said.
She reiterated the establishment of a more comprehensive plan against the pandemic, stressing that contact tracing must be standardized.
The vice president noted that the Philippines falls short of the ideal minimum contact tracing coverage of 37 individuals per one infected person. In Metro Manila, only five people per each infected person are being traced.
Robredo said the government must use an efficient tracing application to standardize contact tracing so that local government units (LGUs) won’t need to work on their own. She also suggested that LGUs hire contact tracers to help in the wider coverage of tracing.
Robredo also said businesses must be empowered to shift their product lines, services and business models to those that can help in battling the pandemic.
“Instead of preventing these industries, like the garment industry, which is aiming to shift its operations in creating personal protective equipment (PPE), why not empower them? Provide them step-by-step guidelines,” the vice president said.
She added that the government can also establish a facility where PPEs can be tested so that they no longer need to rely on foreign medical grade testing.
Robredo also proposed that a program be set up to help community-based businesses establish their online presence. An online digital payment system must be set up for MSMEs.
To address hunger during the pandemic, Robredo proposed the distribution of P5,000 cash relief to 10 million poorest families every month for four months, which will cost a total of P200 billion.
“Maliit na halaga ito para mailigtas sila mula sa gutom. Dalawang beses nang nakapagbigay ng ayudang pinansyal ang pambansang pamahalaan. Sang-ayon ang maraming eksperto na dapat pang maglaan ng dagdag na pondo para mai-extend ito (This is just a small amount to save people from hunger. The government has given cash aid twice and experts agreed that another fund must be allocated to extend this),” Robredo said.
In order to combat hunger, ample support to farmers, fisherfolks, and livestock farmers must also be provided. Development of infrastructure such as farm-to-market roads and cold storage facilities to help them increase their produce must also be expedited.
Robredo also said the agricultural sector is the most resilient sector in the economy and deserves much support.
The vice president also called for improvement in digital infrastructure by building shared cell sites in places suffering from poor signal.
She said with better internet access, more students can participate in online classes and more people will be able to work to restore the economy.
