Senators expect ‘realistic, comprehensive’ plan to stop COVID-19 in Duterte’s SONA

MANILA, Philippines — Some senators are expecting President Rodrigo Duterte to present a “realistic” and “comprehensive” plan in stopping the COVID-19 pandemic and helping the country bounce back.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) should inform the public on how the government intends to solve the country’s problems posed by the virus.

“Sa ikalimang SONA ng administrasyong ito, karapatan nating lahat na marinig ang isang komprehensibong plano para masugpo ang COVID-19 at tugunan ang pagkalugi ng mga maliliit na negosyo, at ang kawalan ng trabaho ng maraming Pilipino. This plan is long-overdue,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

(On the fifth SONA of the administration, it is our right to hear a comprehensive plan to fight against COVID-19 and address the loss of jobs and the bankruptcy of small businesses. This plan is long-overdue.)

Hontiveros said she expects an “apology” to the public regarding the “delayed response” on COVID-19.

“Karapatan ng taumbayan na marinig ang sinserong pag-ako at paghingi ng tawad ng pamahalaan — sa delayed response mula noong naitala ang pinaka-unang kaso ng COVID-19 sa bansa, sa kawalan ng preparasyon at plano, at sa kulang na suporta sa mga LGUs at frontliners,” she said.

(It is the right of the public to hear a sincere apology and accountability from the government for its delayed response from when the country recorded its first COVID-19 case, to the lack of preparation and plans, and to the lack of support for LGUs and frontliners.)

Senator Nancy Binay also hoped that Duterte’s SONA will focus on plans in the coming months, instead of what was already done in the past.

“At this critical moment, the people are already drained from listening to reports on what was done in the past seven months,” Binay said in a separate statement.

“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 (what is needed to be done in the coming days), and show to the nation a clear step-by-step roadmap out of the pandemic,” she went on.

The President should also give reassurance to the public by presenting a “clear implementation” of what steps will be taken to address the pandemic.

“In these uncertain times, people look for reassuring leadership to weather the storm. The President already has a team and the entire government structure to put to task,” Binay said.

“What the people need to hear in this year’s SONA is a clear implementation structure to get things done. The people must feel protected and cared for, and not abandoned in the middle of the storm,” she added.

For Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Duterte should lay out a “to-do list” for the battle against COVID-19.

“Specifically, they want a granular SONA, and if I may suggest, a 30-day plan on how to prevent this pandemic from reaching a dangerous tipping point, from now until August 31,” he added.

“One big push this August, para pagdating ng (so that before the) ‘Ber months, the pandemic, although still with us, is managed and contained. I call it the Jose Mari Chan deadline. Bago siya magtrending, nakalabas na ng ICU ang ating bansa (Before it trends, the country should be out of the ICU). Not total victory, but a tactical stabilization plan,” he added.

The Philippines has so far recorded 78,412 COVID-19 infections with 1,897 deaths and 25,752 recoveries.

Duterte is set to deliver his fifth SONA on Monday, July 27.

JE