Vice President Leni Robredo. SCREEN GRAB
MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos are not “pasaway” (hardheaded) nor inutile, Vice President Leni Robredo stressed on Wednesday in a recorded speech titled “Message of Hope,” that bared her suggestions on how government can improve its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is clear to me that Filipinos are not stubborn, but are always willing to help. Filipinos are not inutile, but have the courage and intellect to face any challenge,” Robredo said, citing how her office continues to witness ordinary Filipinos stepping up to do their part in the health crisis.
“It’s not too much to dream that we can also do what Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam and New Zealand did—countries that have taken clear and concise steps, focused their resources to those who truly need it and helped each other,” she added.
In under 23 minutes, the Vice President laid down her ideas on how the country can cope with the challenges of COVID-19 and how to move forward postpandemic.
She cited the need for more efficient data gathering as the foundation for better decisions, policies and programs, and called for more organized programs for locally stranded individuals in Metro Manila.
Robredo also cited the need for an equitable and systematic provision of resources to hospitals, better wages for healthcare workers, and support for local producers to help them create a buffer stock for materials needed during the pandemic.
She batted as well for the passage of the P1.3-trillion economic stimulus package in Congress, and proposed the setting up of internet hubs in every barangay, the identification of students who need online devices for learning, and the creation of programs and modules to help teachers and parents in the transition to distance learning and homeschooling amid the pandemic.
“With all the challenges we have faced … one thing remains sure: We did not fall apart … because we considered every Filipino to be on our side,” Robredo said.