'Give more priority to more urgent needs now' – Robredo on investing to anti-surgency campaign

Vice President Leni Robredo said she recognizes the importance of having an anti-communist insurgency campaign allotted in the 2021 budget, however, it should be assessed considering other urgent matters in an interview with ABS-CBN via zoom today, November 16, 2020.

Robredo said that in light with the recent typhoons that hit the country and the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the congress might need to reevaluate the government’s anti-insurgency budget.

"I recognize the importance, pero sa’kin, it should be assessed not in itself but relative to all the other budgets. Ano ba 'yung pinaka-kinakailangan now? Terrorism is a problem. Pero 'yun 'yung tanong ko," she said.

The former lawmaker also added that although she concurs to investing in that, the question always would be, if this is the budget for anti-terrorism or anti-insurgency, how much are they to invest in health, education, and environmental protection.

“So, parating ang tanong is, ito yung budget for anti-terrorism or anti-insurgency, how much are we investing in health? How much are we investing in education? How much are we investing in environmental protection? Kasi kung itong tatlo, sobrang liit niya in comparison to what we are setting aside for anti-insurgency, baka kailangang balikan ulit, given na yung panahon natin dictates na we should give more priority to more urgent needs now," Robredo said.

The Congress has reserved a total amount of Php 19 billion from the proposed Php 4.5 trillion 2021 budget for the government's campaign against communist insurgency which for Robredo should be more aligned towards “disaster-proofing” the country which has been long neglected.

"Over the years, parang hindi siya masyadong binibigyan ng concern. Nabibigyan lang s'ya ng concern every time merong nangyayaring ganito. Pero pag humuhupa, parang wala na ulit sa awareness ng marami. Dapat seryosohin ng marami," she said.

Robredo also wants to designate more budget for the COVID-19 vaccine which would take into consideration that apart from the procurement of the vaccine, there is also storage and distribution costs.

According to chief implementer of the national plan against the pandemic, Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr., by May of next year, the Philippines may start the rollout of vaccination program.

As of today, the country has recorded a total of 409,574 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 27,369 of which are active cases, 374,366 have recovered while death toll stands at 7,839.

Photo from Yahoo News