Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday, August 24 called on Malacañang to improve its pandemic response, saying citizens have been left to fend for themselves.
“Na para bang walang timon, walang direksiyon, walang malinaw na horizon kung kailan at paano masosolusyonan ang pandemiya. Na para bang aabutan lang táyo ng kaunting ayuda, tapos bahala ka na, magkulong ka na lang sa bahay at mabuhay nang nangangamba,” the Vice President said.
Robredo pointed out in her speech that the lack of clear strategies and alleged corruption on the part of the national government have further worsened the state of the country during the pandemic.
“Paanong magkakaroon ng kumpiyansa kung ni hindi natin masiguro kung saan napupunta ang mga pondo? Paanong magkakakumpiyansa, kung sa tuwing magpe-presscon ang liderato, wala tayong linaw na mahinuha,” Robredo asked.
In just 20 minutes, the Vice President was able to enumerate her 11 proposals to better address the ongoing public health crisis. Her suggestions focused on increasing the country’s confidence in beating COVID-19. Robredo said these could be done by intensifying contact tracing, providing more assistance to the poor, the unemployed, and small businesses, and strengthening food security.
“Buo ang loob ko. Sa pananalig, sa paninindigan, at higit sa lahat, sa pagkakaisa, madadaig natin ang krisis na ito. Tiwala ako: kaya natin ito,” Robredo concluded.