Vice President Leni Robredo. (VP Leni Media Bureau)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — One important trait of the incoming president should be vigilance, and having the foresight to anticipate succeeding events and its effects especially with different crises popping up, Vice President Leni Robredo said.
Speaking during the Kandidatalks forum hosted by GoNegosyo and OnePh which aired on Friday, Robredo who is running for president in the 2022 elections said that having these two traits would ensure that the country is in a good state amid several factors affecting local and international affairs.
She mentioned vigilance and foresight after being asked what she would have done to address the rising oil prices due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“Kailangan talaga, ‘yong leadership, ‘yong vigilance and foresight laging nandyan para ‘pag nangyayari ‘yong mga crisis na ganito, meron kaagad tayong mga kasagutan na hindi tayo nauunahan ng pagkakataon,” Robredo said.
“Dapat number one ‘yon, meaning to say hindi lang reactive ‘yong presidente, kailangan napapaghandaan ‘yong mga problema, ‘di pa nangyayari. Kasi kung gagalaw tayo na nangyari na, mas magiging mahirap for us. Mas kapit-patalim tayo,” she added.
According to Robredo, the conflict in Ukraine which erupted in February should serve as a reminder to future administrations that issues should not be handled at the last minute.
Robredo raised several questions about preparedness, specifically in the power sector, as the country faces the grim reality of energy sources at the Malampaya Gas Field running out.
By this time, the Vice President said that discussions the future energy mix of the country should be ongoing.
“So ano ‘yong lesson sa atin nitong Ukraine? Ang lesson sa atin no’ng Ukraine, hindi talaga tayo pwedeng last minute nag-aaksyon sa mga bagay-bagay. Kailangan hindi pa nangyayari ay lagi na tayong handa, halimbawa ‘yong kakulangan sa kuryente, alam natin ‘yong Malampaya by 2024, paubos na ‘yon,” Robredo stressed.
“So ano ‘yong pampalit natin do’n? Marami ngayon na mga service contracts na application na hindi pa inaaksyunan, dapat aksyunan na ‘yon kasi sa’n tayo kukuha ng pampalit sa supply,” she added.
She noted that shifting to new sources of energy — with lessening carbon footprints in mind — should be started immediately because it is not an overnight project..
“‘Yong aggressiveness sa paghanap ng ibang sources of energy, halimbawa ‘yong renewables hindi naman ‘yon namamadali. ‘Yong kwestyon na magshi-shift ba tayo, ‘yong ating energy mix ba ay dadagdagan natin ng liquified natural gas?” she asked.
“Again may infrastructure ‘yon na kailangan, na hindi rin siya namamadali kasi napakalaking investment no’ng kailangan,” she added.
Robredo is running in the 2022 national elections as one of the opposition candidates, squaring up against several candidates including survey frontrunner former senator Bongbong Marcos.
Marcos, according to surveys including Pulse Asia, ranks first, grabbing 60 percent of the votes if elections were held last February 18 to 23. Robredo is a far second with 15 percent of the respondents picking her.
However, Robredo’s camp claimed that the survey was not an accurate picture as it did not grasp the massive ground support she has been getting. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV meanwhile said that Robredo, as per their internal surveys, is gradually gaining ground on Marcos.
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