If elected president, Gonzales to borrow more funds to allocate jobs for workers

Presidential candidate and former Defense secretary Norberto Gonzales on Tuesday said he would borrow more funds to allocate more jobs and livelihood for Filipino workers if he gets elected in the upcoming May 9 polls.

During the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Presidential Forum, Gonzales underscored the importance of more livelihood and jobs for Filipino workers to boost the country’s economy.

“Importante at napakahalaga sa ating mga kababayan na magkaroon ng hanapbuhay, chicken and egg situation yan. Kailangan bigyan talaga natin ng pagkakataon ang ating maraming kababayan na makatulong sa pagpapalago ng ekonomiya,” he said.

(It is very important for our countrymen to have a job, that is a chicken and egg situation. We really need to give a chance to our fellow countrymen to help the country’s economy grow.)

Gonzales said he does not mind if the government’s running debt balance ballooned to a new record-high and breach P12-trillion mark as of end-January this year, adding that he would still borrow more funds to boost the country’s economy.

“Alam ko marami tayong utang, ano ngayon? Eh di mangutang pa tayo ng konti kung may magtitiwala at kinakailangan ang importante buhayin ang ekonomiya na ang talaga nagdadala ng ekonomiya. Iwasan natin na ilang tao lamang ang magsasabi na sila lang ang nagpapaunlad ng ating ekonomiya,” he said.

(I know that we owe a lot, so what? Let us borrow a little if there is someone who trusts us and it is necessary to revive the country’s economy. Let us avoid that only a few people will say that they are the only ones reviving our economy.)

“Dapat ang nakararami nating mamamayan dumamay sila sumali sila, at tayong gobyerno naman tayo ay tutulong bubuksan natin ang capital kung kinakailangan kaysa pumunta sa 5-6 yung ating maliliit na kababayan dito sa atin,” he added.

(The majority of our people should sympathize with them, they must join. We in government should help, we will open the capital if necessary instead of our fellow countrymen going to 5-6.)

Treasury data showed that the end-January national government outstanding debt stood at P12.03 trillion, 2.6% higher than the P11.73 trillion debt recorded as of end-December 2021.

The central bank announced in January that it is set to loan out another P300 billion to the national government, as budgetary support as the country continues to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 vaccination information drive

At the same forum, Gonzales vowed he would focus on vaccination drive to convince more Filipinos to get their booster jabs amid COVID-19 pandemic.

He said Filipinos have shifted their focus on the upcoming elections, in which they tend to disregard vaccination against COVID-19.

“Madaling magtiwala ang ating mamamayan sa pamahalaan, depende yan kung anong impormasyon na binibigay mo eh. Sa ngayon kasi huwag natin ijudge yung taong bayan natin na medyo hindi nila napapansin yung pag-ano ng booster shots,” he said.

(It is easy for our people to trust the government, it depends on what information you provide. For now, let us not judge the Filipinos who right now do not prioritize getting booster shots.)

“Kasi libang na libang tayo sa entertainment ng pulitika ngayon eh, pagako na ang presidente wala nang campaign, ifo-focus talaga natin ang pagbibigay ng tamang impormasyon naniniwala ako at nakikita ko yan,” he added.

(We really enjoy the entertainment of politics now, if I get elected as president and will no longer have a campaign, we will really focus on providing the right information.)

He also called to listen and trust the health experts who are knowledgeable on the scientific field, adding that he would get another COVID-19 booster shot if he will be allowed.

“Kung ang ating mga expert yan ang sinasabi abay pagtiwalaan natin sila, sila ang nakakaintindi niyan eh. Ako, kung kailangan ko magpabooster shot ulit, hinihintay ko lang ang doktor ko ayaw pa akong sabihan eh, kung kailangan ng booster shot okay,” Gonzales said.

(If our experts advise that, we must trust them, they are the ones who are experts in that field. I will get another booster shot if I will be allowed to, I'm just waiting for my doctor who doesn't want to tell me yet, if I need a booster shot okay.)

On mandatory vaccination, Gonzales said “Mas epektibo yung kinukumbinsi mo at pinapaunawa mo kung bakit kaysa bigla mo na lang uutusan, hindi naman tama ‘yun.”

(It is more effective to convince and make them understand not in a very sudden and unjust order, that’s not right.)

The National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) earlier reported that a total of 6,702 immunocompromised individuals have received their second COVID-19 booster shots in the first week of the government's rollout.

NVOC chairperson and Health Undersecretary Dr. Myrna Cabotaje said there are now 67.8 million fully-vaccinated individuals in the country as the government had delivered 146.7 million total jabs. — RSJ, GMA News