SENATE minority leader Franklin Drilon yesterday said he expects President Duterte to discuss in his coming State of the Nation Address (SONA) the administration’s overall comprehensive plan to alleviate the plight of Filipinos and mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“The upcoming SONA is an opportunity for the President to present an overall comprehensive plan on how the country will survive this pandemic. At the top of our wish list is to hear the President’s plan on how to revive our economy heavily hit by the pandemic and help millions of our countrymen, including hundreds of thousands of overseas Filipino workers, who lost their livelihood,” Drilon said in a radio interview.
Duterete is set to deliver his fifth SONA at the Batasan Pambansa on Monday, July 27.
Drilon said the lack of an overall comprehensive plan in the fight against COVID-19 has apparently led to the spike of COVID cases, adding that because the government did not have an overall plan, it resulted in a shotgun approach in dealing with the pandemic and in implementing the longest lockdown in the world which he said did little to prevent the spread of the virus but only damaged the economy.
“We want to hear the government’s plans on how we can get out of this situation as a whole and I assure them that the members of the opposition will cooperate with the administration in crafting measures to help them address the pandemic,” Drilon said.
Drilon said it is time for the IATF to review its performance since it is clear it has failed to effectively prevent the spread of the virus based on data on how the COVID-19 cases rapidly increase each day.
“Let’s face it, the IATF has failed and even Malacanang would admit it,” he said.
From around 300 cases per day in March, cases have jumped to a daily average of 2,000 since June, he noted.
“The IATF should take a second look at what they have done. They should review their performance and find out how they can be more effective. What did Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam do that we failed to do?” he said.
“You know, these days, just to survive is already an achievement by itself. What do we have to do to prevent the spread of the virus?” he added.
Drilon said he also wants to hear the President talk about how much the country would really need to beef up the economy, noting the conflicting figures between the Department of Finance and Congress.
The House of Representatives is eyeing a P1.3 trillion stimulus package to revive the economy but the executive, through the finance department, said the amount is too high and the government can only allow up to P140 billion.
“We are ready to support any measure towards economic recovery. But the first question is: how much do we need to jumpstart the economy? If we agree on a certain amount, then the next question is, how are we going to fund it? Is it through a new tax measure or by borrowing?” he said, adding he would not object to the country borrowing more funds to address the pandemic even if it exceeds its deficit target as long as the people’s needs are addressed.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte yesterday said that street actions will be allowed in identified places in the city when the President delivers his 5th SONA since the city is a traditional site for such demonstrations.
Belmonte said groups that want to hold assemblies must adhere with the provisions under Batas Pambansa 880 or the Public Assembly Act of 1985, and observe health protocols to make sure that COVID-19 will not further spread.
“We will also determine the time demonstrations will be allowed, the number of people who will join, and they must comply with minimum health standards, otherwise, we have the right to remind or disperse them,” Belmonte told the Laging Handa daily press briefing.
