Economic roadmap to support medical approach vs COVID urged
FORMER Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has urged the national government to adopt a comprehensive and transformative economic roadmap that would support the country’s medical approach against the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic.
While the medical approach is important, Cayetano said Filipinos are also worried about having enough money to buy food and other basic necessities.
“Napakaimportante nung medical (approach), yung bakuna at minimum health protocols at saka yung maganda ang tulog at kain natin. (Pero) madaling sabihin na maganda ang tulog at kain (mo) kung may pera ka. So, dapat yung ekonomiya, tinitignan din natin,” Cayetano said.
Last year, the country saw its worst economic contraction since the Second World War.
Meanwhile, inflation hit a two-year high in February as the prices of basic goods skyrocketed early this year.
Cayetano said an economic roadmap should contain national and local priorities, as well as a timeline for its implementation.
The lawmaker cited the American Rescue Plan, an economic stimulus package enacted by the United States Congress early this year. The measure has allocated funding to address unemployment, expand employee benefits, expand tax credits, support businesses and schools, support housing programs, and reinforce the US healthcare system.
Cayetano said having an economic roadmap will help boost investor confidence in the country as well as in its local government units.
“Kailangan may plano at proactive,” he said. “Pag naglatag ng plano ang gobyerno, willing din naman silang mag invest basta predictable.”
