The transport sector which is the hardest-hit not just by the COVID-19 pandemic but lack of funding support from the government and overregulation deserves aid, according to Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson.
“Very important kasi sila ‘yung hard-hit… In fact, the hardest hit sector, ‘yung transport sector ng pandemya dahil ‘nung nag-lockdown talagang tigil lahat sila. Katunayan ‘yung bus operators, mga bus driver, jeepney drivers, taxi drivers, tricycle drivers hirap na hirap,” said Lacson after he met with transport sector leaders and members in the “Online Kumustahan” on Saturday in Quezon .
The son of a jeepney driver himself, Lacson said this was why he and Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III – his running mate – ensured that funds were earmarked for drivers under the Bayanihan Act laws.
“And that’s the reason why ‘nung in-author ni Senate President ‘yung Bayanihan I, Bayanihan II—at least sa Bayanihan II—naglaan ng pondo doon para bigyan ng ayuda ‘yung mga driver kasi sila talaga ‘yung tinamaan e; P5.58-billion ang nilagak na pondo at kami sinuportahan namin ‘yon bilang miyembro ng majority sa Senado—initiative ni Senate President,” ayon kay Lacson.
However, the aid did not reach the drivers when they needed it because only one percent of that fund has been disbursed, Lacson said, citing a Commission on Audit report.
Curiously, senators learned of this only during the ongoing probe of Pharmally’s anomalous purchases of COVID-19 supplies for the government, the longtime public servant added.
“So, ang problema, noong nagkaroon na ng audit report ‘yung COA… Aba, e one percent lang pala ang napamigay, so sa halip na matulungan kaagad… Kasi when it mattered most dapat doon na ibigay ‘yung ayuda,” the veteran senator said.
“So, ‘nung kinalampag namin, nagkaroon kami ng pagdinig ulit—I think sa Pharmally na ito ‘nung naungkat namin na, teka muna, bakit pati ‘yung ayuda ng mga driver hindi naibibigay? So, ngayon, nag-ca-catch up sila,” sabi ni Lacson ‘Yan ang aming… Kami, ‘pag nagsalita kasi, ginagawa namin. Hindi ‘yung ‘pag nagsalita, tapos na. So, ‘yon, fino-follow up namin and mabuti na lang may catch up plan ‘yung administration at inaapura nila ngayon ang pagbibigay,” the Partido Reporma chairman said.
[That’s the way we work… When we say it, we do it, we don’t just say it and we’re done with it. So, we’re following up, and thankfully the administration has a catch-up plan and they are expediting the disbursements (to the drivers).]