“Is it really to Rise, Recover, Heal, as ONE?”
(thoughts after the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One act by Duterte's legislators,
and how the regime seemingly half-hearted in its pursuit
of recovering the country amidst rising debts)
Like the earlier Bayanihan bills 1 and 2, the proposed bill stressed the need to inject new funds meant to "fight against the pandemic" as the Philippine economy continues to drown, citing reports that the country entered into a recession as the economy plunged to 16.5% in the second quarter due to the Luzon-wide lockdown.
Sounds reasonable at first citing that the bill tends to continue the past two laws meant to promote development in the time of the pandemic, however, despite its intent, interest seekers in the government and in the private sector would dare to exploit this situation as funds from the proposed act will roll after its passing. Be it the promised subsidy, the needed budget for vaccines, necessary support for frontliners, to those of stimulus packages, the proposed act may sound helpful, but this doesn’t stop the concerned from worrying especially if this tainted by corruption and interest.
Besides this, the order’s treatment of the pandemic as a means to consolidate interests shows their obvious agenda to perpetuate power- especially that with the promised vaccines are to be given and the proposed immunisation to be commenced from mid2021 to 2022, this can be potentially becoming a form of a political leverage than a noblesse oblige. Otherwise, Duterte has no intention to conduct mass vaccination and seeks to profit from future deals. In the 2021 national budget, only a measly 2.7% of the P72 billion needed to vaccinate at least 60% of Filipinos was allocated. He did allotted PhP1 billion for vaccine procurement tho, which is way far from his pet interests such as PhP19 billion pesos for the NTF-ELCAC, P58 billion for the military’s modernization program, and PhP8.3 billion worth of presidential intelligence funds! What more that the regime is also in a borrowing spree that, as in the past administrations, will force the folk to pay for these growing debts. Yes, "these are for developments", but debt-driven.
At present, despite the laws meant to "heal", and "recover" by legislators, as well as companies trying to simulate production to recover from pandemic-driven losses, the country remains in recession, recording another 8.3% drop in the last three months of 2020. It is also stated that the funding as proposed by the bull will deliver subsidies both to help businesses survive the pandemic and to aid poor Filipinos.
And, sorry for the thought, for as these politicians promised that the proposed law would benefit the folk both in proving the needed subsidies, then how come it is the same politicians who nod at what president Duterte wished for a bigger budget for consolidating the order by force? For sure the folk would have wanted a caring administration not a fear provoking one as what Duterte did-way contrary to his promise of "malasakit", which again connotates to a care, if not benevolence.
Again, regardless of the order’s statements, people demand for transparency and accountability especially with the act involves the coffer of the people. Especially that with this pandemic, the much-needed assistance is meant to be given as possible. After all, of what is “one” refers to n that “to heal/recover as one” if it didn’t refers to the folk?
Anyway, wouldn't be surprised that the folk is now "awakened, united, fighting as one" because of the regime's half-hearted actions meant to "heal, recover, and arise" as "one."