Jobs, health, education: Robredo lays out economic recovery plan

Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday laid out her economic recovery plan, which includes providing financial assistance to jobless Filipinos, free access to medical care, and a focus on education and infrastructure.

In a video shared on her Facebook page, the presidential candidate enumerated the key points of her comprehensive economic recovery plan, the Angat Buhay Pilipino program.

Robredo vowed to raise the quality of living of every Filipino family, especially those who lost hope during COVID-19 pandemic.

“Unang prayoridad ang kakulangan ng sapat na kabuhayan. Sa ating plano, kung mawalan ng trabaho, may tatlong buwang ayuda, at kung hindi pa rin makahanap ng kapalit, gobyerno mismo ang magbibigay ng trabaho sa inyo,” she said.

(The first priority is the lack of adequate livelihood. In our plan, if you lose your job, there is three months' assistance, and if you still cannot find a replacement job, the government will provide you with one.)

“Hindi hadlang ang edad o kasarian para makapag-hanap buhay. Maari ding mag-training para sa dagdag na kaalaman at kakayahan,” she added.

(Age or gender is not a barrier to earning a living. You can also train for additional knowledge and skills.)

Robredo also said that she would prioritize the health and welfare of every Filipino, adding that every family will have free access to doctors.

“Sisiguraduhin natin ang kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino. Aayusin natin ang PhilHealth. Tatanggalin ang katiwalian at kawalan ng kakayanan para makapag-silbi nang maayos. Dapat bawat pamilya ay may access sa libreng doctor,” she said.

(We will prioritize the health of every Filipino. We will fix PhilHealth. Corruption and inability to serve properly will be eliminated. Every family should have access to a free doctor.)

Robredo also said that she will improve the government's conditional cash transfer program for the poorest families, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

“Pagandahin pa lalo ang 4Ps. Isasama natin sa conditional cash transfer ang mga nanay at kanilang sanggol sa unang 1,000 days para tiyak ang kalusugan ng mag-ina,” she added.

(We will enhance the 4Ps. We will include mothers and their babies in the conditional cash transfer for the [baby's] first 1,000 days to ensure the health of the mother and daughter.)

Robredo said she will expand the school feeding program in public primary and secondary schools to address the hunger among children.

Education budget

Robredo said that she will provide the education sector, which was greatly affected by the pandemic, with a bigger budget.

“Susuriin natin ang ating sistema ng edukasyon at tutukuyin ang mga reporma. Bago pa man magpandemya, mayroon na tayong education crisis. Kaya ang una natin kailangang gawin dadagdagan ang budget para matugunan ang mga kakulangan ng sektor. Titiyakin natin ang kalidad ng edukasyon ng ating mga anak,” she said.

(We will review our education system and identify reforms. Even before the pandemic, we already had an education crisis. So the first thing we need to do is increase the budget to address the sector’s shortcomings. We will ensure the quality of education of our children.)

The presidential candidate said she will strengthen the private-public partnership and will push for a digital economy.

These items, Robredo added, are just some of the priorities her administration would focus on. Other sectors they will attend to, she said, are agriculture and fisheries, tourism, transportation, manufacturing, and infrastructure.

Transport, commuter groups endorse Leni-Kiko

Meanwhile, over 30 groups representing the transport and commuters sectors on Tuesday expressed support for Robredo and her running mate Senator Kiko Pangilinan.

Over 30 transport and commuter groups expressed support for the tandem of Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Kiko Pangilinan. pic.twitter.com/itjaKCNoEN

— Ted Cordero (@Ted_Cordero) May 3, 2022

In a “unity statement,” organizations of commuters, drivers, and transport workers said they are uniting in the belief that the Leni-Kiko tandem “ang magbibigay sa atin ng makataong sistema ng transportasyon, isang sistema na hindi nang-iiwan sa 95% na ordinaryong Pilipinong walang pribadong kotse [will give us a humane transportation system that will not leave behind the 95% ordinary Filipinos who do not have private vehicles].”

“Kami, mga komyuter, tsuper, operator, at manggagawa sa transportasyon na bumubuo sa malawak na sektor ng pampublikong transportasyon ay buong pusong nagdedeklara ng suporta sa kandidatura ni Vice President Leni Robredo bilang Pangulo at Senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan bilang Pangalawang Pangulo sa paparating na halalan sa ika-9 ng Mayo 2022,” the groups said.

(We, commuters, drivers, operators, workers in transportation comprising the broad sector of public transportations, are wholeheartedly declaring support for the candidacies of Vice President Leni Robredo for president and Senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilanan for vice president in the upcoming elections on May 9, 2022.)

The groups said the Leni-Kiko tandem have “genuine concern” for drivers, operators, and commuters and that their plan for the transportation sector is centered on people and the environment, not on cars.

The groups highlighted the Leni-Kiko tandem’s programs such as:

• Increasing the number of public transportation units plying the roads through an efficient service contracting program and inclusive franchising system
• Funding for protected and connected bike lanes and safe parking space for bicycles
• Safe and wide roads for passengers and pedestrians
• Inclusive pedestrian crossings and terminals for persons with disabilities, pregnant women, and senior citizens
• Improving terminals and railway system
• Trees and plants along roads that will give shade and comfort for all
• Provide cash aid, benefits, contracts, medical aid, and overall protection for drivers and operators

The groups said that Robredo is also promising to expand and fast-track the Pantawid Pasada and other financial aids and benefits for workers in the public transportation sector.

The Leni-Kiko tandem, according to the groups, also promises to promote rural development that will have a direct effect in improving the lives of farmers and fishermen to increase jobs and opportunities.

“Kasama rin sa mga pangako niya ang pagsuporta sa lokal na pagma-manupaktura ng mga jeepney at pagpapaunlad ng sariling industriya ng bansa, lalo na ng green transportation o makakalikasang transportasyon,” the groups said.

(Among her promises is to support local manufacturing of jeepneys and the development of the country’s own green or pro-environment transportation industry.)

The signatories in the joint statement are the following groups:

• Commuters for Leni Kiko
• Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON)
• Komyut
• Move Metro Manila
• Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa
• National Confederation of Transport Workers Union (NCTU)
• Metro Naga Active Transport Community
• Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap
• Kilusang Mayo Uno
• Workers For Leni
• Save San Roque Alliance
• AltMobility PH
• Akbayan Youth Misamis Oriental
• Ang Silab
• Mandaue Sabang Danao Multicab Operators and Drivers Multipurpose Cooperative 16. Life Cycles PH
• Institute for Leadership, Empowerment and Democracy (iLEAD)
• Frontliners Kitchen
• Akbayan Muntinlupa
• Youth Strike 4 Climate Philippines
• ACTO Nationwide Inc.
• Alliance of Pavia Iloilo Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association
• Wanderstar Ventures Inc.
• Ateneo Loyola Schools Faculty Association
• Agham Youth National
• Bohol Island Operators & Drivers Multi-Purpose Cooperative
• Banawa Transport Cooperative
• Association of European Studies Students
• Pro-People Engineers and Leaders
• Kasurog Party
• Bicol Local Youth Assembly
• PUP College of Law Student Council
• Kilos Kristiyanong Kabataan
• Ayuda Network
• Kilos ng Manggagawa
• Anakpawis Partylist
• Migrante Philippines
• Kabataan Partylist

The 2022 national and local elections will be held on May 9. — BM, GMA News