• Headlines
  • City/Region News
    • Baguio City
    • CAR
    • Nation
  • Sectoral news
    • Elections
      • Elections – 2022
      • Elections – 2019
    • Agriculture, Fishery and Pets
    • Business & Livelihood
    • Education, Arts & Culture
    • OFW | Migration
    • Environment and Disaster Management
    • Science and Technology
    • Tourism, travel and Events
    • Other Lifestyle
    • Police Beat
  • Health
    • Covid-19 Advisory and Updates
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Timek Ti Umili
  • Sports
  • Other sections
    • Features
    • Photos/Videos
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Words for reflection
    • Sponsored articles
    • Jobs in Baguio
    • Elections
  • Ads & Notices
    • Obituaries
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Directory
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Contact Us
HERALD EXPRESS | News in Cordillera and Northern Luzon
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Headlines
  • City/Region News
    • Baguio City
    • CAR
    • Nation
  • Sectoral news
    • Elections
      • Elections – 2022
      • Elections – 2019
    • Agriculture, Fishery and Pets
    • Business & Livelihood
    • Education, Arts & Culture
    • OFW | Migration
    • Environment and Disaster Management
    • Science and Technology
    • Tourism, travel and Events
    • Other Lifestyle
    • Police Beat
  • Health
    • Covid-19 Advisory and Updates
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Timek Ti Umili
  • Sports
  • Other sections
    • Features
    • Photos/Videos
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Words for reflection
    • Sponsored articles
    • Jobs in Baguio
    • Elections
  • Ads & Notices
    • Obituaries
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Directory
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Headlines
  • City/Region News
    • Baguio City
    • CAR
    • Nation
  • Sectoral news
    • Elections
      • Elections – 2022
      • Elections – 2019
    • Agriculture, Fishery and Pets
    • Business & Livelihood
    • Education, Arts & Culture
    • OFW | Migration
    • Environment and Disaster Management
    • Science and Technology
    • Tourism, travel and Events
    • Other Lifestyle
    • Police Beat
  • Health
    • Covid-19 Advisory and Updates
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Timek Ti Umili
  • Sports
  • Other sections
    • Features
    • Photos/Videos
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Words for reflection
    • Sponsored articles
    • Jobs in Baguio
    • Elections
  • Ads & Notices
    • Obituaries
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Directory
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
HERALD EXPRESS | News in Cordillera and Northern Luzon
No Result
View All Result
Home Nation

Cayetano: COVID ‘here to stay,’ gov’t must innovate and adapt

HENT by HENT
January 12, 2022
in Nation
0
0
Baguio-based coops benefit from Cayetano’s microfinancing program
0
SHARES
2
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

With the growing complexities of the pandemic, the Philippine government has to tailor its response with the mindset that COVID-19 is “here to stay,” according to former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.

“Pwedeng grumabe, pwedeng bumaba ang cases, pwedeng humina y’ung virus, pwedeng magkaroon ng kung anuman, pero it’s here to stay,” Cayetano said in a media interview.

(The cases can swell, it can deflate, the virus can weaken, anything can happen, but it’s certainly here to stay.)

“Ilang beses na ba tayong nabulaga ng COVID? Nabulaga tayo ng Delta, nabulaga tayo ngayon ng Omicron, tapos sinasabi fully vaccinated na pero sa ibang bansa eh third dose na, pinag-uusapan na rin ang fourth dose,” the former Speaker added.

(We’ve been caught off-guard before with Delta, now with Omicron. Other countries already define ‘fully vaccinated’ as three shots, and some are even thinking of a fourth shot.)

Cayetano said the current mindset brought about by less stringent restrictions late last year may hinder more progressive ways in dealing with the Omicron variant as well as other possible future variants of COVID-19.

“Nagtatrabaho naman talaga ang gobyerno, lalo na y’ung local government, o IATF, pero y’ung mindset kasi parang matatapos na ang pandemic, may bakuna na, may gamot na, eh all the doctors have been telling us, we have to live with COVID, hindi basta mawawala ito,’” Cayetano said.

(The government is working hard, especially local government units [LGUs] and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases [IATF], but the mindset that the pandemic will end, that there are vaccines and medicines for it anyway, cannot justify our current mindset. Doctors have said that we have to live with COVID.)

Cayetano said because Filipinos are optimistic by nature, people do not think about adapting, innovating, and living with COVID-19.

“We cannot innovate, we cannot adapt kung ang parati nating iniisip ‘matatapos na’ (if our mindset is that the pandemic is about to end),” he said.

Cayetano mentioned that even with no lockdowns and other restrictions, the ongoing rise in the number of cases of COVID-19 makes it a necessity for the government to provide financial assistance to everyone.

“For example, some restaurants here in Metro Manila nagsara by themselves not because walang customer, not because of lockdown, but because ang dami nilang crew at sa kitchen na nag-positive [sa COVID-19]. Kung ‘yan ay breadwinner, tapos pati y’ung hindi nagpositive madamay, ‘pag nagsara y’ung restaurant ng one week, two weeks, three weeks ay walang kakainin yung pamilya nila kung wala tayong mabibigay na ayuda,” he said.

(For example, some restaurants here in Metro Manila closed by themselves not because there are no customers or lockdowns but because many of their crew members and kitchen personnel have tested positive for COVID-19. If they are breadwinners, even if they did not test positive but the restaurant closes for one or two or three weeks, their families will have nothing to eat if we do not give financial aid.)

He said the good news is that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Transportation (DOTr), and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have a total of P80 billion they can give as financial assistance.

“Ang bad news, napakaliit ng P80 billion,” he said. “So kung magla-lockdown tayo, mangangapa na naman tayo kung saan tayo kukuha, so napaka-importante na sa bawat galaw natin, we try to predict the unpredictable,” he added.

(The bad news is that P80 billion is too small. If we face lockdown again, we’ll have difficulty finding enough funds again. It’s important that we be prepared and predict the unpredictable.)

Cayetano said providing financial aid directly to all Filipino families is the simpler and more efficient way to distribute financial aid, especially at a time when the Philippines may see more stringent lockdowns in light of the Omicron variant.

He also said the targeted approach will not work because the funds are lodged in different departments and agencies.

“The most simple way is tulad sa Bayanihan 1. Just give it per family, ibigay niyo sa LGU, at lahat bigyan niyo na. So y’ung targeted approach na per department, it really doesn’t work, so I hope ma-speed up talaga para hindi naman mawalan ng pag-asa ang ating mga kababayan,” Cayetano said.

(The most simple way is one adapted by Bayanihan 1. Just give the aid to every family through the LGUs. The targeted approach in which every department distributes its own aid doesn’t work, so I hope this can be speeded up so that our people do not lose hope.)

Cayetano has been pushing the government to provide Filipinos P10,000 in direct aid since early 2021. His twin programs, Sampung Libong Pag-asa and Sari-saring Pag-asa which regularly air on his official Facebook page, aim to provide affected sectors and small businesses, respectively, with direct stimulus aid.

“I’m really hoping, this 2022, makapag-innovate ang gobyerno kahit na nag-eeleksyon, kahit nagta-transition tayo,” Cayetano said.

(I’m really hoping that this year, the government can innovate even during the election campaign, even when we transition to a new administration.)####

Previous Post

Increase in city’s garbage hauling fee questioned

Next Post

Estrañero challenges city employees to do better for 2022

Next Post
Mayor Estrañero distributes cash aide and rice to barangay LGUs

Estrañero challenges city employees to do better for 2022

ADVERTISEMENT

Recent News

UnionBank, GMG Productions bring Tony award-winning musical 

UnionBank, GMG Productions bring Tony award-winning musical 

June 19, 2025
Increased production in rice through drone use observed by Kalinga farmers 

Increased production in rice through drone use observed by Kalinga farmers 

June 19, 2025
BENECO Unveils New Mobile App for Enhanced Consumer Services

BENECO Unveils New Mobile App for Enhanced Consumer Services

June 19, 2025
DSWD-SWAD shares its core programs, services for 2025

DSWD-SWAD shares its core programs, services for 2025

June 19, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
HERALD EXPRESS | News in Cordillera and Northern Luzon

Herald Express is a news organization based in Baguio City that has a weekly publication and an online news portal. The newspaper is circulated in the different provinces of Northern Luzon. The name of the fastest-growing publication in town is coined from the word ‘quick messenger’ which is self-explanatory.

Follow Us

Search

No Result
View All Result

© 2024 Baguio Herald Express | Website Design and Development by Neitiviti Studios

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Headlines
  • City/Region News
    • Baguio City
    • CAR
    • Nation
  • Sectoral news
    • Elections
      • Elections – 2022
      • Elections – 2019
    • Agriculture, Fishery and Pets
    • Business & Livelihood
    • Education, Arts & Culture
    • OFW | Migration
    • Environment and Disaster Management
    • Science and Technology
    • Tourism, travel and Events
    • Other Lifestyle
    • Police Beat
  • Health
    • Covid-19 Advisory and Updates
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Timek Ti Umili
  • Sports
  • Other sections
    • Features
    • Photos/Videos
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Words for reflection
    • Sponsored articles
    • Jobs in Baguio
    • Elections
  • Ads & Notices
    • Obituaries
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Directory
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Contact Us

© 2024 Baguio Herald Express | Website Design and Development by Neitiviti Studios