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.
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.
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.
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.
The COVID-19 pandemic has placed the government in a very precarious situation as in a tightrope-like balancing act between health and economic issues, which presents a no win-all situation.
That is why it is revolting to discover so much unabated corruption in PhilHealth involving billions that could have been put into good use in adequately addressing at least the issue of health.
Having said that, I would like to believe, as often expressed by the country’s economic managers, that we continue to benefit from our strong economic fundamentals which can pull us through this crisis, until such time that a vaccine that has guaranteed efficacy is finally developed to address the pandemic.
In an interview, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– mulitbillion-peso wastage of taxpayers’ money due to RROW issues
– need for government to shift focus to the economy
– possible food crisis
– on Pagcor action on PH offshore gambling operations
– recent bombings
In an interview on DWIZ, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– the Isulan bombing and Senate Bill 1956 (Anti-Terrorism Act of 2018)
– pork in the proposed 2019 national budget
– need for government to shift its attention to the economy
– President Duterte’s recent strong statements against possible abuses by China
– timetable of Senate relocation
In an interview on DZBB, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– dialogue between President Duterte and Catholic Church leaders
– continued support for President Duterte; adjustments his administration can make in the next 4 years
– more crime prevention, police visibility needed
– need to reassess the economy, including external factors
– consistency and having only one standard in fighting corruption
– continued jueteng operations
– localized peace talks with CPP-NPA-NDF
– fighting terrorist groups
– developments in the West Philippine Sea
