Lacson eyes end to lockdowns, less gov’t intervention in vaccine rollout

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Saturday revealed his plans on how the country can emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking in an online forum with Antipolo City residents, the presidential aspirant said he would craft a lockdown exit strategy in consultation with health experts.

“Pinagaaralan namin ito at sa pakikipagcoordinate sa mga health experts magsagawa tayo ng mga hakbang nang sa ganoon matigil na itong mga lockdown kasi hindi natin alam kung kelan matatapos ang pandemya,” he said.

(We are studying this, and in coordination with health experts, we will take steps to stop these lockdowns because we do not know when the pandemic will end.)

“Dapat nakatuon tayo sa paano buksan ang ating ekonomiya kasi baka hindi na tayo tumagal. Ang utang po natin ay P13.4 trillion papalo sa susunod na taon at napakaraming dulot na problema itong pandemic,” he added.

(We must focus on how to open up our economy because we may not be able to survive longer. Our debt is expected to hit P13.4 trillion next year and this pandemic has brought many problems.)

Lacson also said he intends to have “less government intervention” in the mass immunization program against COVID-19.

“Yung private sector nagvolunteer na sila, yung LGUs (local government units) nagoffer na sila na sila na ang bibili pero parang napakabigat sa national government yung nangyayaring pinapahirapan yung pribadong sector na willing silang magdonate para sa kanilang mga employees,” he said.

(The private sector has volunteered, the LGUs have already offered to buy their own vaccines but it seems that the national government is restricting the private sector who are willing to donate vaccines for their employees.)

“So isang solution less government intervention particular na yung paano itatrato yung ating private sectors at business sectors ay huwag tayong magoverregulate kasi dyan mahihirapan sa pagbangon ng ating ekonomiya,” he added.

(So, one solution is less government intervention, particularly how we treat the private and business sectors. Let's not overregulate because that could undermine economic recovery.)

Lacson said the biggest problem of the country is “bad government.”

“Ang solution hindi lalayo sa problema. It lies in the face of the problem itself. Government ang solution, good government,” he said.

(The solution is not that far from the problem. It lies in the face of the problem itself. Good government is the solution.)

Lacson filed on October 6 his certificate of candidacy for president in the May 2022 elections, with Senate President Vicente Sotto III as running mate.  — VBL, GMA News