Manny Lopez pitches investment, loans programs for PH recovery

If elected, Labor Party Philippines vice presidential candidate Manny Lopez on Thursday said he would propose three strategies for the economic recovery of the country. 

During the Commission on Elections Vice Presidential Forum, Lopez said that one of his proposed strategies was the Omnibus Investment Code.

The measure aims to improve doing business and enhancing the productivity of industries as well as the workers through collaborative measures.

“With that we will be able to have competitive advantage in our business scenario, with that maka-attract tayo ng mas maraming investors, mas makaka-create ng maraming trabaho across the region,” Lopez explained.

He also proposed the passage of a “simplified bankruptcy law” which can be used as the legal framework of industries struggling financially.

The vice presidential candidate said the law will assist entrepreneurs facing economic challenges by providing a lifeline for their bounce back.

“Ang isang simplified bankruptcy law will be made available sa struggling enterprise para sila ay makabalik at makatayo muli at maka-recover from the impact of the pandemic,” Lopez said.

“Marami sa MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) na ito ay na-bankrupt o malapit nang ma-bankrupt because of the protocols we need to observe, marami dyan kailangan isara. Kapag meron tayong legal framework na simple, then we will have to amend the FRIA Law (Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act),” he added.

Moreover, Lopez noted that he would advocate loan programs designed for business enterprises who went bankrupt due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Available naman ang pera pero hindi ma-access because of the stringent requirements, with government guarantee, maaaring mas malawak ang business firm at individuals na makaka-access,” he said. “We will course this through commercial banking system with government guarantee para walang palakasan, dapat ang interes mababa.”

Cultural excellence

Also in the interview, Lopez said that he would push for cultural excellence among the youths towards quality education should he win as vice president.

He pointed out that the implementation of the K to 12 program was hounded by various challenges.

“Ok naman ‘yan (K to 12 program) kasi binase sa international standard. Ang problem ay sa implementation. Sa palagay ko doon nagkukulang ang ating K to 12 program,” he stated.

“Pag na-improve siguro ‘yan with corresponding improvement in implementation, I think magiging mahusay ang resulta,” he added.

He went on saying that the education department should focus on cultural excellence to help students get a job after graduating from Senior High School.

“Bakit ko nasabi na kailangan natin ng cultural excellence? Ang mga bata dito parang hindi na nananaginip, hindi na sila nag-aaspire na pinakamagaling. Nawawala na yan, we have to change that, and we can do that through quality education,” Lopez stressed.

Science-based approach

Asked what he would do to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lopez said he would employ a "science-based, cost effective and pragmatic approach."

“My best strategy is to inform the people how virus will act. We have to understand the viral life cycle. Kung alam mo ang kalaban mo, alam mo ang gagawin mo,” he added.

Lopez also underscored the importance of a strategy that would balance economic concerns with the health requirements of COVID-19 response.

“When it comes to the protocol, I think we have to be more effective and efficient. We cannot go to public health and safety and sacrifice the economy, we have to balance,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lopez said the public health care system should be developed by having more doctors, providing scholarships, and building more hospitals.

“Meron tayong short term, medium term and long term approach. I'll start with the long term, we need more doctors. We should provide scholarships to have more doctors, nurses and other medical practitioners,” he said.

“When it comes to hospitals, you need to equip them, you need expertise, we have to plan it well, we need management experts and nagvo-volunteer ako to help people to realize these dreams," he added.

Amend Referendum Act

Should he win in May 9 polls, Lopez vowed to amend the Initiative and Referendum Act of 1987 to allow ordinary citizens and groups to participate in a people’s initiative.

People’s initiative is a way to make laws beyond the power vested in Congress provided for by the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

Under the rule, at least 10% of the total registered voters in the Philippines should sign the petition for a new law. It also requires the signature of at least 3% of registered voters in each legislative district.

However, Lopez is suggesting that only 5% or less of the overall voting population should sign the petition, and that the legislative district requirement should be removed entirely.

“Kailangan yun pong implementing rules and guidelines would be easier and may plano ako para dyan. From10% siguro mga 5% or lower, kailangan i-eliminate ang 3% minimum na makukuha mong botante every district,” he argued.

“Ang importante ang implementing rules and guidelines, yung Comelec ang istasyon para mangolekta ng signatures. Ang barangay magkaroon ng parang debate, bibigyan ng oras at schedule, parang mini-CNN sa bawat barangay. We will bring the topic down to barangay, that is people’s empowerment,” he furthered.

Tax collection

Lopez said he would impose two approaches to demand payment of unpaid taxes of individuals, business firms, among others.

Lopez proposed an e-governance system to improve tax collection, saying it could address specific loopholes in the public financial system.

“Kailangan unahin natin ma-improve ang tax collection, there are two approaches: one is to embrace digitalization or computerization and secondly ung nag-a-avoid ng taxes, kailangan ma-penalize yan,” he said.

Similarly, the vice presidential candidate said that the government must spend its taxes wisely to alleviate the needs of the people.

He added, “’Yun pong politicians na nagpapangako ng bilyon-bilyon, hindi maaari ‘yun. ‘Yan ay sinasabi nila para sila ay inyong iboto, ang realidad kailangan tayo mag-belt tightening.

Lopez, meanwhile, said he would choose leading the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) if elected vice president.

“I would like to pursue the socioeconomic recovery program of the country, I could do that better if I will be given a chance to work as perhaps, secretary of DTI,” he said.—LDF, GMA News