Lacson: Transport sector hardest hit by pandemic, deserves aid the most

The transport sector is the hardest-hit not just by the coronavirus pandemic but by the lack of funding support from the government and overregulation, Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said over the weekend, and thus public utility drivers are most deserving of aid.

“Very important kasi sila ‘yung hard-hit… In fact, the hardest hit sector, ‘yung transport sector ng pandemya dahil ‘nung nag-lockdown talagang tigil lahat sila. Katunayan ‘yung bus operators, mga bus driver, jeepney drivers, taxi drivers, tricycle drivers hirap na hirap,” the presidential candidate said as he met transport sector leaders and members in the “Online Kumustahan” on Saturday in Quezon City.

[They are very important because they are hard-hit… In fact the hardest hit sector was the transport sector during the pandemic, because they all stopped during the lockdowns. The bus operators, the bus drivers, jeepney drivers, taxi drivers, tricycle drivers are all suffering.]

The son of a jeepney driver himself, Lacson said this was why he and Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III – his running mate – ensured that funds were earmarked for drivers under the Bayanihan Act laws.

“And that’s the reason why ‘nung in-author ni Senate President ‘yung Bayanihan I, Bayanihan II—at least sa Bayanihan II—naglaan ng pondo doon para bigyan ng ayuda ‘yung mga driver kasi sila talaga ‘yung tinamaan e; P5.58-billion ang nilagak na pondo at kami sinuportahan namin ‘yon bilang miyembro ng majority sa Senado—initiative ni Senate President,” he said.

[That’s the reason why, when the Senate President authored Bayanihan I, Bayanihan II—at least for Bayanihan II—we earmarked funds to give cash aid for the drivers, because they were the worst hit. We set aside P5.58 billion, and we supported that as members of the Senate majority – as an initiative of the Senate President.]

However, the aid did not reach the drivers when they needed it because only one percent of that fund has been disbursed, Lacson said, citing a Commission on Audit report.

Curiously, senators learned of this only during the ongoing probe of Pharmally’s anomalous purchases of COVID-19 supplies for the government, the longtime public servant added.

“So, ang problema, noong nagkaroon na ng audit report ‘yung COA… Aba, e one percent lang pala ang napamigay, so sa halip na matulungan kaagad… Kasi when it mattered most dapat doon na ibigay ‘yung ayuda,” the veteran senator said.

[So the problem is, when COA released its audit report… Only one percent was disbursed, so instead of helping (the drivers) right away… Because when it mattered most, that’s when the cash aid should have been given.]

“So, ‘nung kinalampag namin, nagkaroon kami ng pagdinig ulit—I think sa Pharmally na ito ‘nung naungkat namin na, teka muna, bakit pati ‘yung ayuda ng mga driver hindi naibibigay? So, ngayon, nag-ca-catch up sila,” the former national police chief added.

[So, when we called their attention to it, we had another hearing – I think this was during the Pharmally hearing when we discovered that, wait a minute, why hasn’t the cash aid for drivers been disbursed? So, now they’re playing catch-up.]

“‘Yan ang aming… Kami, ‘pag nagsalita kasi, ginagawa namin. Hindi ‘yung ‘pag nagsalita, tapos na. So, ‘yon, fino-follow up namin and mabuti na lang may catch up plan ‘yung administration at inaapura nila ngayon ang pagbibigay,” the Partido Reporma chairman said.

[That’s the way we work… When we say it, we do it, we don’t just say it and we’re done with it. So, we’re following up, and thankfully the administration has a catch-up plan and they are expediting the disbursements (to the drivers).]

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