Pandemic recovery, anti-corruption efforts to remain top priorities for Lacson-Sotto

Pandemic recovery, anti-corruption efforts to remain top priorities for Lacson-Sotto

Implementing his proposed future-proof strategic measures to lift the entire nation from the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic remains a priority for Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson should he receive the executive mandate from the electorate.

Included in this wide-ranging agenda is the creation of jobs to curb the unemployment rate, overhauling the budget system to cut national debt, providing funds for the universal healthcare coverage of Filipinos, and stamping out unbridled corruption in the bureaucracy, among others.

Lacson also mentioned he and running mate Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III would like to get to the bottom of the rampant agricultural smuggling they recently uncovered as well the perennial diplomatic, trade and national security issues involving the West Philippine Sea.

“Napakarami, dikit-dikit; minsan magkaka-connect pa, minsan naman hindi. Kami sa aming isang programa, siyempre, uunahin ‘yung pandemya pa rin,” Lacson told reporters in a press conference held in Lingayen, Pangasinan before the Christmas holidays.

(There are so many problems that need to be addressed; sometimes they are connected, sometimes they are independent from each other. For us, in one of our programs, we will keep our focus on addressing the pandemic.)

In his pre-election consultation meetings with various stakeholders around the country, Lacson relentlessly pushed for his Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (BRAVE) program, which he believes is an effective solution that could address our most pressing problems at once.

By fixing how the national budget should be distributed equitably across the regions, the Universal Health Care Act could be properly funded, thus allowing all Filipinos to get the standard level of care and medical treatment promised to them by the state under the law, Lacson said.

“Meron tayong Universal Health Care Act [na] naipasa 2018 pa. Hanggang ngayon hindi pa fully funded [kahit] kaya naman. Ang full implementation nito nasa mga P257-billion [pero] ang inilagak na pondo para sa 2022, P173-[billion] lang,” he noted.

(We have the Universal Health Care Act that was enacted in 2018, but until now it is not yet fully funded, even if the government can afford it. We need at least P257-billion for its full implementation, but what was provided for in 2022 is only P173-billion.)

Eliminating graft across all levels of the bureaucracy is equally crucial for Lacson, as this affects different sectors, including healthcare. He cited as example the anomalous management of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation that led to seven hospitals in Iloilo City cutting ties with it.

“[‘Yung paglaban sa] korapsyon, ‘yon ang aming talagang pinag-uukulan ng pansin. At hindi lang dahil mag-e-eleksyon. Matagal na naming ginagawa, hindi sa salita, more sa gawa,” the three-term senator underscored.

(We remain focused on fighting our problem with corruption and this is not because it’s election season. We have been advocating this for a long time, not only through words, but more with our actions.)

“Mahirap lang magkuwento ng mga dumarating doon na mga lobby money na isinosoli namin—kaming dalawa [ni Senate President]—actual ito. ‘Yun ang pumapatay sa atin, ‘yung katakut-takot na problema (sa korapsyon) na hindi natutugunan…” Lacson said further.

(It’s just difficult for us to go into details about the lobby money that used to reach our offices, which Senate President Sotto and I have been returning to their senders actually. That is what has been killing us, the humongous problem on corruption that remains unsolved.)

On top of these priorities, Lacson added that he wanted the Universal Tertiary Education Act be to implemented accordingly. Like all other measures, he pointed out that appropriating the right amount of budget is necessary for underprivileged students to avail of free education under this law.

Lacson is the presidential candidate of Partido Reporma in the 2022 national elections alongside Sotto, his longtime colleague and partner in public service, who is running for vice president under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) party that he also chairs.