If elected president, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said his government would not hesitate to allocate billions more to fund this campaign promise of making COVID-19 tests and treatment free for all. Halalan2022 READ MORE here:
The Philippines has "missed our opportunities" and "failed to insulate our nation from the most severe impact of the worst global health crisis of our time," Lacson said in an online forum put together by Cignal TV and FINEX, where he outlined his economic agenda.
"Our approach to this health crisis must be proactive, not reactive, based only on science and driven by accurate data and not by pandemic politics," he said. As of last month, the price of COVID-19 swab tests in the Philippines ranges from P1,000 to P3,360, depending on the hospital or laboratory. "The government has to infuse money on the economic engine to keep the wheels rolling – until such time when the people are ready and confident enough to step in the economic wagon," he said.
"To cure this bleeding, we must push for recovery start-ups through comprehensive and targeted fiscal stimulus packages to aid our businesses in reopening and staying afloat," Lacson said. "We can tap the corporate social responsibility arms of corporations in pursuing initiatives to provide cash payments under ‘decent work’ conditions to enable them to get back on their feet," he added.