Tag: economy

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Lacson: P118.5B Economic Loss from Ghost Flood Projects a Bigger Crime if Culprits Remain Unpunished

It’s bad enough that the economy has lost some P118.5 billion due to ghost flood control projects since 2023, but the much bigger crime is letting the culprits remain unpunished, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson was referring to estimates cited by Department of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto indicating the ghost flood control projects cost the economy P118.5 billion or the equivalent of up to 266,000 jobs.

“With the DOF’s mind-boggling estimated economic loss of P118.5 billion due to ‘ghost’ flood control projects, if those responsible go unpunished, the government may be committing a bigger crime against the Filipino people,” Lacson said in a post on X.

In Filipino: Lacson: P118.5B Luging Dulot ng Ghost Flood Projects, Mas Malaking Krimen Kung Walang Mananagot

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Lacson: Paid Menstrual Leave May Have Unintended Consequences on Women

While he is all for upholding the welfare of women, former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson is concerned that a proposal for a paid menstrual leave may do more harm than good to the ordinary working woman whose rights it is supposed to uphold, as well as to the country.

Lacson pointed out the economic implications of such a leave may lead to layoffs or even closing of some factories whose owners do not have the budget for it.

“Instead of benefiting the female workforce in general, it may have a negative effect on the economic and political stability of the country,” he said.

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Mga Inaasahan sa Huling SONA ni Pangulong Duterte, Isiniwalat ni Ping

Image: CTTO

Ano ang kalagayan ng programa ng gobyerno sa pagbabakuna laban sa COVID-19, at ang pakikipaglaban sa katiwalian? Mas bumuti ba ang buhay natin ngayon mula nang mag-umpisa ang administrasyon ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte noong 2016? Ano pa ang puwede niyang gawin sa nalalabing panahon ng kanyang termino?

Ilan ito sa mga katanungan ni Senador Panfilo Lacson na inaasahan niyang masasagot ng Pangulo sa panghuling State of the Nation Address (SONA) nito sa Hulyo 26.

“After five years, where are we now, or what is the situation in the many aspects of his administration such as peace and order, fight against illegal drugs, corruption, economy, and foreign policy, particularly the West Philippine Sea? We want to hear what happened in the last five years – and moving forward for the last year of his administration, what can still be done?” banggit ni Lacson sa isang media forum nitong Linggo.

Sa kanyang mga katanungan ay binigyang diin ng mambabatas ang programa sa pagbabakuna.

“But it is critical to update us on the government’s response to the pandemic. This includes the status of the government’s vaccination program. This is important because many Filipinos still do not trust the vaccine. In the meantime, the government must continue its campaign to gain the people’s trust in vaccines, based on science,” ayon pa sa mambabatas.

Read in ENGLISH: Lacson Bares Expectations from President Duterte’s Final SONA
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Lacson Bares Expectations from President Duterte’s Final SONA

Image: CTTO

What is the status of the government’s vaccination program, and its fight against corruption? Are we better off than when President Rodrigo Duterte started his term in 2016? What can be done in the last year of his term?

These are among the questions that Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson hopes the President will address in his final State of the Nation Address (SONA) this July.

“After five years, where are we now, or what is the situation in the many aspects of his administration such as peace and order, fight against illegal drugs, corruption, economy, and foreign policy, particularly the West Philippine Sea? We want to hear what happened in the last five years – and moving forward for the last year of his administration, what can still be done?” Lacson said at a media forum in Manila on Sunday.

“But it is critical to update us on the government’s response to the pandemic. This includes the status of the government’s vaccination program. This is important because many Filipinos still do not trust the vaccine. In the meantime, the government must continue its campaign to gain the people’s trust in vaccines, based on science,” he added.

Basahin sa TAGALOG: Mga Inaasahan sa Huling SONA ni Pangulong Duterte, Isiniwalat ni Ping
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On the Bad Shape of the Philippine Economy

The Philippine economy is definitely in bad shape, made even worse by the difficult choice between addressing health-related problems and the sinking economy.

A classic example is the NEDA’s recommendation to the President to allow children 10 years old and above to go out of their homes with their parents, as NEDA studies show 50 percent of the economy is driven by family activities outside their homes.

It was a very sound NEDA suggestion that was initially given due course but recalled immediately, instead of first considering a middle ground that would have accomplished both – like closely supervised or monitored family outings.

Policy decisions play a vital role in striking a balance between long-term implications on the economy and the immediate effects on our people’s health concerns. The right decisions will chart our path towards a sustainable “new normal,” pull us out from pits of social and economic distress, and shape a safer and more resilient society.

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