PRESIDENT Duterte yesterday asked Congress to immediately pass several legislative measures aimed at expediting the country’s recovery from the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and preparing for future pandemics.
Among these measures are the second part of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and economic bills that would restart businesses.
The President, in his fifth state of the nation address (SONA) delivered to an audience of about 50 persons at the House of Representatives and virtually through teleconferencing, said no one in the world had been prepared for the pandemic, including First World countries like the United States and the China which are still reeling from the impact of the virus.
Duterte highlighted the country’s strong fiscal performance prior to the pandemic and intervention implemented by government to contain COVID-19, and thanked Congress for passing the Bayanihan Act. The second Bayanihan Act contains supplemental funds and economic stimulus packages for recovery and response.
The Bayanihan to Recover as One is one of the 21 bills endorsed by the President in his SONA. The others are Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE), Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST), the Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST), and Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE), and the Rural Agricultural and Fisheries Development Financing Systems Act.
CREATE seeks to reduce corporate income tax rates to 25 percent, from 30 percent, starting July 2020; extend the net operating loss carryover up to five years, from the current three years, for small businesses; extended the sunset provision up to nine years; and give the President more flexibility in granting a combination of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.
FIST or House Bill 6816, aims to set a mechanism to allow banks and other financial institutions to dispose of non-performing loans and assets and transfer such loans and assets to FIST Corporations — which is likened to the special purpose vehicle; while GUIDE seeks to provide financial aid and access to distressed enterprises including micro, small and medium businesses, and “important companies critical to economic recovery.”
The Rural Agricultural and Fisheries Development Financing Systems Act or House bill 6134, meanwhile, seeks to remove the distinction between agriculture and agrarian under the Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act of 2009, and free up more capital for the agriculture sector and enhance access to private sector financing by rural communities.
INTERVENTION
Duterte defended his government’s policy to fight the pandemic and said early intervention had prevented as many as 1.3 million to 3.5 million infections.
Speaking as the country’s cases grew to 82,040 and nearly 2,000 deaths, Duterte said a lengthy lockdown that was one of the world’s strictest may have hurt the economy but had kept numbers in check.
The Philippines eased restrictions on June 1, but cases have since quadrupled and critics say the country was too slow in detecting infections due to weak testing, which Duterte acknowledged started slowly.
“To me, even if the numbers were much lower, it would still be and would have been worth the sacrifice we made,” he said of the measures.
“Life first before everything,” he said, adding “we initially encountered difficulties ramping up our testing capacity.”
Duterte also reiterated that he would not allow schools to reopen for face-to-face classes until a vaccine was available and had earlier believed one could be ready as early as September.
He said he asked Chinese President Xi Jinping four days ago to make the Philippines a top priority once Beijing had developed its own vaccine for COVID-19.
Duterte also promised no relent in a bloody war on drugs that has alarmed the international community and said the Philippines “will not dodge our obligation” to human rights, adding that included protecting people from drugs and corruption.
TELCOS WARNED
Duterte threatened the closure or government expropriation of telecoms firms for what he called “lousy” services, and gave providers until December to improve.
He said the government needs to respond better to future pandemics, like through better communication to reach those in remote areas, which he said is important not just in the health services but also in sustaining the educational system.
Duterte said he would talk to Congress further on improving the telecommunication services as he gave companies Globe Telecoms and Smart Communications until December to improve their services, warning that might be forced to expropriate them.
He said would close the companies if they do not have the money to improve their business.
“Look for funds because if you are not ready to improve, I might just as well close all of you and we revert to the line telephone and I will take it back and expropriate it for government… Smart and Globe, for how many years now, the answer is always, ‘the party cannot be reached,’” he said in Filipino.
The President said the people are exasperated and nearing their limits and when the time comes he will represent the anger of the people unless the telcos improve their services by December.
“Kindly improve the services before December. I want to call Jesus Christ to Bethlehem.
Better have that line cleared,” he said.
The President also urged Congress to pass the Advanced Nursing Education Act, amendments to the Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016, institutionalization of a medical reserve corps, and the creation of a National Disease Management Authority.
Duterte, thanked the health professionals for their heroism and sacrifices during this time of pandemic along those involved in security and peace order like the military, police and even security guards, as well as members of government led by the Interagency Task Force and National Task Force Against COVID-19 and the private sector for their contribution in the efforts o contain the coronavirus.
DRILON, OLIGARCHS
President Duterte spent part of his SONA lambasting Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon for alleged “arrogant” remarks that he made when he supposedly defended the Lopezes who own media network ABS-CBN Corp., and talked of dynasty in the country and the Dutertes involved in politics.
Three of the President’s children are in government — his eldest daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio is Davao City Mayor, his eldest son Paolo represents Davao City in the House of Representatives, while his youngest son Sebastian is Davao City’s Vice Mayor.
“My countrymen, it is sad that while government focuses its attention and resources to battle the coronavirus, there are those who take advantage of a preoccupied government.
One of them is Senator Frank Drilon. In an interview, he arrogantly mentioned among others that oligarchs need not be rich. Then he linked the anti-dynasty system with oligarchy and the topic was my daughter and son. This happened after the Committee on Franchise voted 70-11 to deny the grant of franchise to ABS-CBN. Obviously, he was defending the Lopezes that they are not oligarchs,” he said shortly after opening his speech.
He later called Drilon a hypocrite and asked if he was involved in the water concessionaire agreements between the government and private firm manila water and Maynilad Waters in the 90s.
DEATH PENALTY and CRIMES
The President also again batted for the re-imposition of death penalty through lethal injection in the country for crimes related to illegal drugs.
“I reiterate the swift passage of a law reviving death penalty by lethal injection for crimes specified under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002,” Duterte said who called the attention of the audience present as it was met with silence.
“I did not hear enough clapping, so I presumed that they are not interested,” he said which prompted his audience to clap.
The President who again talked of corruption, illegal drugs and crime in his SONA, warned criminals and those engaged in illegal activities against restarting their criminal activities.
Duterte when he ran for office in 2016 had vowed to address corruption, illegal drugs and crimes.
The President endorsed anew the proposed National Land Use Act and the Rental Housing Subsidy bill, recognizing the difficulties faced by some tenants amid the shutdown of businesses, and those who were forced out of their homes for their inability to pay their rent or lease at this time of pandemic.
Duterte also reiterated the need for the passage of pending bills creating the Department of Overseas Filipinos amid the impact of the pandemic on the Filipinos who were working abroad and displaced due to the COVID-19 crisis.
He also called for the passage of the bills creating the Department of Disaster Resiliency, creating the Boracay Island Authority; the rationalizing pension of military and police personnel; the bills modernizing the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Bureau of Immigration; and the rationalization and utilization of the coconut levy fund. — With Reuters
