Tag: pandemic

Statements

Ping: Pwede Namang Mamuhay nang Normal Pero Listo pa Rin sa COVID

Sa pagkabugbog ng ating ekonomiya at sektor ng kalusugan dahil sa epekto ng dalawang taon nang pandemya, sinabi ni Partido Reporma standard-bearer Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson na napapanahon na para baguhin ang mindset ng mga Pilipino patungo sa pamumuhay habang nananatili ang banta ng COVID-19.

Nauunawaan ni Lacson na mahalaga pa rin ang kaligtasan at kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino ngunit kinakailangan na umanong tanggapin ang buhay na mayroong umiiral na COVID-19 upang magkaroon ng kaukulang pag-iingat laban sa virus habang pinasisigla ang ekonomiya.

Related: Lacson to Gov’t: Consider Moving Towards Endemic Mindset to Help Economy Recover
Continue reading “Ping: Pwede Namang Mamuhay nang Normal Pero Listo pa Rin sa COVID” →

Statements

Lacson to Gov’t: Consider Moving Towards Endemic Mindset to Help Economy Recover

A suggestion to remove the Covid alert system as lockdowns become more granular will give our battered economy a badly needed chance to recover, Partido Reporma standard-bearer Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Tuesday.

But Lacson stressed the health and economic officials concerned must learn from the past and adopt a sense of urgency in studying – and implementing – such options.

“It’s about time. Talagang matindi ang inabot ng ekonomiya natin for the past two years (It’s about time. Our economy has suffered in the past two years),” he said in an interview on DWIZ radio, when asked if he favors a suggestion by presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion to remove the alert level system.

Related: Ping: Pwede Namang Mamuhay nang Normal Pero Listo pa Rin sa COVID
Continue reading “Lacson to Gov’t: Consider Moving Towards Endemic Mindset to Help Economy Recover” →

Radio, Statements

Lacson-Sotto, Kinakasa na ang Mga Panukalang Solusyon sa Pandemya

Isang mahusay na estratehiya na nakatuon sa kalusugan at ekonomiya ang hinahanda ngayon nina Senador Ping Lacson at Senate President Tito Sotto bilang pagtugon sa pandemya, sakaling palarin silang manalo sa eleksyon sa Mayo 2022.

Binigyang diin ito ni Lacson nitong Martes kasabay ng kanyang panawagan na unahin ang pagbabakuna sa mas nakakararaming populasyon, dahil hindi lubos na mabubuksan ang ating ekonomiya kung hindi makakamit ang herd immunity.

“Dalawa ang napakalaking problema sa pandemic: Health at economy. Vaccination ang Number 1 solution dahil nakita natin sa ibang bansa pag mataas ang vaccination rate nakabukas sila ng ekonomiya. Yan dapat pag-ukulan natin ng pansin,” ani Lacson sa kanyang panayam nitong umaga sa DZRH.

Related: Lacson-Sotto Tandem Readies Two-Pronged Solution to Deal With Pandemic
Continue reading “Lacson-Sotto, Kinakasa na ang Mga Panukalang Solusyon sa Pandemya” →

Radio, Statements

Lacson-Sotto Tandem Readies Two-Pronged Solution to Deal With Pandemic

A two-pronged strategy centering on health and the economy will highlight the response of Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson and Senate President Vicente “Tito” C. Sotto III to the Covid pandemic and its lingering effects, should they win in the May 2022 general elections.

Lacson said this on Tuesday even as he stressed vaccination will be the first step to all these, as the efforts to reopen our economy cannot take place without achieving herd immunity first.

“Dalawa ang napakalaking problema sa pandemic: Health at economy. Vaccination ang Number 1 solution dahil nakita natin sa ibang bansa pag mataas ang vaccination rate nakapagbukas sila ng ekonomiya. Yan dapat pag-ukulan natin ng pansin (The pandemic has brought two big problems, to our health and our economy. Vaccination is the Number One solution because in other countries, economies will reopen if the vaccination rate is high. So that is what we need to focus on),” he said in an interview on DZRH radio.

Related: Lacson-Sotto, Kinakasa na ang Mga Panukalang Solusyon sa Pandemya
Continue reading “Lacson-Sotto Tandem Readies Two-Pronged Solution to Deal With Pandemic” →

Speeches, Videos

Speech Before the Rotary Club of Parañaque North

Tonight, I am grateful as it is my honor and privilege to address, albeit virtually, a group of committed and passionate individuals, who continue to render unwavering service to our fellowmen.

As I speak to all of you today, I believe that I would be remiss if I will not confide to you the mixed feelings that keep me up at night, so to speak.

Truth be told – in my years of existence, never in my wildest imagination have I ever thought that Filipinos would come to live in such despair, uncertainty and worst – fear.

Continue reading “Speech Before the Rotary Club of Parañaque North” →

Statements

On the Challenges Facing a Leader

Sailing into the sea is the easiest decision to make. Not knowing how rough the water is the dangerous part. Measuring one’s skills in steering the boat is a big responsibility especially when people’s lives depend on it. Best to think long and hard. It is not a game or a joke.

This applies to everyone, actually. Consider the following:

* Outstanding national debt of P10.774 trillion as of March 2021, ballooning to P10.991 trillion as of April 2021

* 3.44 million Filipinos out of jobs as of March 2021

* Shortfall in revenue collections, with revenues at P2.84 trillion already including non-tax revenues like dividends, fees, etc., compared to the original target of P3.25 trillion, based on the Development Budget Coordination Committee’s 2019 projections for the 2020 General Appropriations Act.

Then there’s the continued uncertainty of the pandemic situation in the country and the whole world, not to mention a whole lot of other problems that will confront the next administration like the West Philippine Sea, illegal drugs, corruption and even issues surrounding the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and God knows what else.

*****

Statements

On the Possible Sale of Government Properties to Fund Pandemic Response Efforts
From: Getty Images

While it is a mark of a true leader to consider any measure – no matter how extraordinary – to save us all, proper and prudent steps must be taken in consideration of the country’s long-term survival, thus avoiding that future generations of Filipinos will be left with nothing.

There are a number of Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) with real estate and other assets, but receive subsidies from the national government year in and year out, mainly because they are mismanaged – if not being used as cash cows by unscrupulous officials.

An audit and inventory of all these assets should be conducted posthaste. The government should retain only those that generate revenue, and sell the rest.

It bears repeating that this is an extraordinary time that calls for extraordinary measures, for the survival of our people and the whole country.

*****

Statements

Ping: Bigyan Muna ng Face Mask ang Mga Walang Pambili Bago Manghuli ng Pasaway

Bago manghuli ng mga pasaway, dapat ay masigurado muna ng mga awtoridad na lahat ng mamamayan, lalo ang mga walang pambili, ay mapagkalooban ng libreng face mask.

Ito ang ipinanawagan ni Senador Panfilo Lacson upang matiyak na lahat ay hindi magkakaroon ng dahilan para hindi magsuot ng face mask, maging ang mga mahihirap na ultimo pangkain ay pinoproblema kung saan hahagilapin.

“Before implementing the arrest order issued against Filipinos not wearing masks, it is but fair and just for the government to provide to those who don’t have the money to buy them,” banggit ni Lacson sa pamamagitan ng kanyang Twitter account.

Related: Lacson: Give Poor Face Masks First Before Arresting Them
Continue reading “Ping: Bigyan Muna ng Face Mask ang Mga Walang Pambili Bago Manghuli ng Pasaway” →

Statements

Lacson: Give Poor Face Masks First Before Arresting Them

It is only fair that poor Filipinos who cannot afford face masks deserve a chance to obey the rules first before they get arrested.

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson stressed this Wednesday amid President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to authorities to arrest those not wearing face masks properly.

“Before implementing the arrest order issued against Filipinos not wearing masks, it is but fair and just for the government to provide to those who don’t have the money to buy them,” Lacson said in a post on his Twitter account.

Related: Ping: Bigyan Muna ng Face Mask ang Mga Walang Pambili Bago Manghuli ng Pasaway
Continue reading “Lacson: Give Poor Face Masks First Before Arresting Them” →

Statements

On Sec. Duque’s Claim that the COVID-19 Pandemic is a Blessing in Disguise
Image Courtesy: PNA

Some people are definitely making a killing out of the misery brought upon our people by the coronavirus, coming as it does in many forms we cannot even imagine.

We have seen the PhilHealth’s illegal advance payments to unauthorized health care institutions and grossly overpriced procurement of IT equipment – not to mention its doctoring of financial records.

At the Department of Health, we continue to be confronted by issues we hate to hear, but which we now know anyway – the DOH’s “double-the-price” purchases of PPEs and face masks and probably even face shields.

Yet, as we hear the Secretary of Health saying that the pandemic is a “blessing in disguise,” we know for sure we haven’t seen the worse for our suffering countrymen, in terms of health and economic well-being.

*****

Statements

Balancing Economy and Health: On The Pandemic-Caused Recession Worsened by PhilHealth Corruption

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.

*****