Lacson, Pangilinan support Duterte’s declaration of state of calamity
MANILA, Philippines — Two senators on Wednesday supported President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of a state of calamity over the Philippines following the continued increase in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases despite the implementation of an enhanced community quarantine.
Senators Panfilo Lacson and Francis Pangilinan said that Duterte’s declaration is “timely” and “necessary,” considering the urgency of the situation.
In a message to reporters, Lacson said “placing the entire country under a state of calamity is timely and rational and thus deserves the support of the Filipino people.”
Lacson said such directive would allow the national government and local government units (LGUs) to utilize their calamity funds and its Quick Response Fund (QRF).
“Having said that, I cannot imagine concerned local government officials in charge of dispensing those funds can still have gall and malevolent intention of stealing the monies under their control considering the seriousness of this unprecedented crisis that we are all facing,” the senator said.
But the senator said the government “cannot overcome the threat by itself” despite its disaster preparedness and response efforts.
“We must all do our part, whether as workers rendering frontline services, scientists developing ways to deal with the problem, or responsible Filipinos giving support to them while showing understanding and cooperation with measures from the national government and local government units,” he said.
“There is no doubt we will survive this, as we have done in so many crises before,” he added.
For his part, Pangilinan said that the government should be transparent in its use of the calamity fund.
“Declaring a state of calamity is necessary in order to be able to release the P16 (billion) calamity fund of the (national government) as well as the use of calamity funds of LGUs,” Pangilinan said in a message to reporters.
“In addition, P13 (billion) of the (c)ontingency (f)und can also be used to fund the (COVID-19) emergency response of (government)… Dapat lang maging maliwanag at transparent ang gobyerno sa paggamit ng nasabing pondo,” the opposition senator further said.
Testing kits, protective gear for medical workers, support for government hospitals should be prioritized, Pangilinan said.
“Pondohan ang suporta sa frontline health workers na mabigyan ng sapat na testing kits, mga protective gear, suporta sa (government) hospitals na makakuha ng sapat equipment tulad ng ventilators, maitatag ang mga isolation wards sa mga pasyente,” he said.
(Let’s fund support for frontline health workers for testing kits, protective gear, and for government hospitals so that they can be given enough equipment like ventilators and isolation wards for patients).
The senator said the government should also ensure that there are enough food supplies, relief goods and cash assistance, especially for poor families and daily wage earners.
Conflicting statements and directives coming from different government officials should not also add up to the crisis at hand, Pangilinan pointed out.
“Willing naman sumunod ang ating mga kababayan kung hindi sila nalilito at alam nila ano ang susundin na patakaran at alam din nila na may maliwanag na ayuda at alalay galing sa gobyerno sa harap ng kalamidad,” he said.
(Filipinos are willing to obey if only they are not confused and if they know which guidelines should be followed and that they know that proper assistance from the governemnt will be extended in light of this calamity).
Duterte has placed the Philippines under a state of calamity amid the rise in COVID-19 cases in the country.
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