Pagod na ang tao: Binay asks Duterte to present ‘clear step-by-step roadmap’ out of coronavirus pandemic

By JOHN CARLO M. CAHINHINAN

Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay is optimistic that President Rodrigo Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) will center on the government’s realistic action plans on what will it do in the following months to battle the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on public health and the economy.

According to Binay, people are “already drained” from listening to reports on what was done in the past seven months amid the health crisis brought by the global pandemic.

“What the people wanted to hear from the President are those that need to be done more in the next five to 12 months—yung mga kinakailangang at dapat gawin sa mga darating na araw, and show to the nation a clear step-by-step roadmap out of the pandemic,” said Binay.

Binay said she expects the President to present an actionable roadmap with relevant response parameters, time-based deliverables, and realistic expectations, adding that the Senate is “ready to support measures to jumpstart the economy.”

“Kami sa Senate are ready and willing to support government’s plans to jumpstart the economy, find ways in tapping resources judiciously, and how to help strengthen public health. Ang laban ngayon ay kung paano mabuhay,” said Binay.

“But as we move ahead, I hope the President will manage people’s expectations, and let them understand how the government prioritizes its actions,” she added.

Binay noted that his colleagues have agreed to prioritize the proposed Bayanihan-2 Law which is ready for approval on third and final reading upon the resumption of Congress.

“The people must feel protected and cared for, and not abandoned in the middle of the storm,” she said.

Binay has raised concern over the country’s slowly opening economic activities amidst localized lockdowns as well as several hospitals that could no longer accommodate coronavirus patients due to full bed capacity.

Since the start of July, there has been a marked increase in Covid infections with a reported more than 80,000 cases to date.

“The question of what needs to be done is clearly weighing heavily on the President. When we see the numbers spike every day, the feeling of despair creeps in. But one has to step up as a leader to address people’s doubts, uncertainties, and feelings of pessimism,” she said.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)