VIROLOGY INSTITUTE. Presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson picks a piece of paper during draw lots on who to answer first during the first Comelec-organized presidential debate at the Sofitel Hotel Tent in Pasay City on Saturday (March 19, 2022). Lacson said he intends to push for the creation of a Philippine Virology Science and Technology Institute to prepare the country for another Covid-19-like pandemic. (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)
MANILA – If elected in the May 9 elections, Partido Reporma standard-bearer, Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, said he will push for the creation of a Philippine Virology Science and Technology Institute as this will be the country's first line of defense against Covid-19 and any other future mutations of the disease.
"Ipu-pursue ko ito dahil ito ang magliligtas sa atin. Hindi na tayo mag-import. Lalakasan natin ang research and development sa pamamagitan ng Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines (I will pursue this because this will save us. We will no longer import knowhow. We will strengthen research and development through this institute)," Lacson said at the Commission on Elections' first presidential debate at the Sofitel Hotel Tent in Pasay City on Saturday night.
He added that the country should always be ready for any pandemic threats.
"It is not a question kung handa o hindi handa ang Pilipinas. Dapat lagi tayong handa for the next pandemic, Deltacron man o maski anong variant, o bagong pandemic (It is no longer a question of whether we are ready. We should always be ready for the next pandemic, be it Deltacron or any other variant, or any new pandemic)," Lacson said.
As early as May 2020, Lacson filed a bill for the creation of the virology center but it did not pass the Senate.
He, however, noted the 2022 budget has set aside PHP982 million as a startup fund for the institute.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is also eyeing to build the facility at New Clark City.
R&D budget
On the other hand, Lacson said this will go hand in hand with his commitment to ensuring a historic increase in funding for research and development, from the "pathetic" current 0.4 percent of the national budget.
Lacson also said this should be complemented by a proactive approach by the government in dealing with threats from viruses.
"Dapat proactive tayo mag-isip at hindi nagre-react (We should be proactive instead of reactive)," he added.
Meanwhile, Lacson said micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) should get top priority of the government in its efforts to help the economy recover from the pandemic.
He said the MSME sector accounts for 99.5 percent of the country’s enterprises, with 400,000 Filipinos having lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
"Kailangan ng comprehensive fiscal stimulus para sa ating MSMEs. Tulungan natin sila ibangon kasi napakalaki ng tama sa ating economy na galing sa sektor ng MSMEs (We need a comprehensive fiscal stimulus for our MSMEs. We should help them recover because of the great damage they sustained when the pandemic hit our economy)," he said.
Lacson said the MSMEs need to be made aware of government programs to help them, including a PHP2-billion agricultural guarantee fund pool.
Work from home
He also supported the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector in its call to extend the work-from-home (WFH) setup for employees in call centers due to high fuel and transportation costs amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
While the government needs to reopen the economy, Lacson said it must take into account the plight of ordinary workers coping with higher costs of living due to high fuel prices.
"Ang hiling ng BPO sector na palawigin ang WFH from April to September, sinususugan ko po yan dahil maraming nagsara na mga opisina nila at gusto nilang magpatuloy ang WFH. At meron tayong Telecommuting Act (I support the BPO sector's call to extend WFH setup from April to September, because their offices had closed during the pandemic and they want to continue the WFH setup. Besides, we already have the Telecommuting Act)," he added.
The Department of Finance earlier said the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) upheld its Resolution No. 19-21, allowing the WFH arrangement of registered IT-BPM enterprises until March 31.
Lacson also cited the costs of fuel and transportation in reiterating his support for a four-day workweek.
His support is premised on the worker being compensated for five days' work since the total hours he/she worked are the same whether he/she worked four days or five days.
Lacson also stressed the four-day workweek should be a temporary arrangement.
Meanwhile, Lacson said measures have to be taken for the medium term, including skills matching, but this can be done if the government digitalizes its processes and transactions.
This can be done through improved internet service, he added. (PNA)
Source: Business Diary Philippines
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