Lacson vows completion of National Broadband Program

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday vowed that if he wins the presidency, he will ensure the completion of the National Broadband Program, which is aimed at improving internet services for Filipinos.

Lacson said the broadband program will also streamline business transactions and government processes and will help rid corruption in bureaucracy.

"Under my leadership, the Filipino people can expect the completion and implementation of our National Broadband Program— our blueprint in building info-structure for a digital nation, in order to improve the overall internet speed and its affordability all over our country," said presidential aspirant Lacson, in a speech at Day 2 of the 10th Arangkada Philippines Forum.

"The digital reform that I envision for our country will connect, unify, and automate all our government processes in order to improve the efficiency of our business transactions, raise our revenue collections, and ultimately minimize, if not totally eradicate corruption in all levels of our bureaucracy," he added.

Currently, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is expected to roll out the Phase 1 of NBP in February 2022. The project will raise internet speed in government offices to 200 mbps in Metro Manila, Region 1, Region 3, and parts of Region 2.

Aside from the NBP, Lacson sought to speed up the implementation of the National ID system under the Philippine Identification System Act, which he authored and sponsored.

Over 1.7 million national ID cards were distributed in the country while 42 million Filipinos registered to secure the card, Philippine Statistics Authority data showed.

Likewise, Lacson reiterated his commitment to fully fund the Universal Healthcare Act to maximize health coverage to all Filipinos without huge financial burden.

"Despite the passage of the  Universal Healthcare Act in 2019, our budget books tell us that our appropriations for the health sector remain dismal," said Lacson.

"Hence, we will fund the 'high-cost' requirement of the Universal Healthcare Act to cover all barangays, provide subsidies for all indirect contributory populations, ensure optimal benefits for healthcare workers, and achieve the target of 1 hospital bed per 800 population," the senator also said.—AOL, GMA News