SONA is crucial in directing fight against COVID

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri is looking to President Rodrigo Duterte to use the State of the Nation Address (SONA) today to lay down the next steps for the country in the ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is a crucial period—we’re easing community quarantines across the country but we’re still battling the rapid spread of the virus. So the SONA is very timely, and I’m hoping the President will spell out the next crucial steps for us,” Zubiri said.

Zubiri will be present at the Batasang Pambansa Complex for the SONA, along with some senators, according to a press statement from his office.

Others are expected to attend virtually, as safety measures dictate a drastically limited audience for the usually packed address.

“Of course, we want to know about the plans for the vaccine, which is the one thing we need in order to finally end this COVID-19 crisis. It would be great to hear about the government’s procurement plans for it, and perhaps a timeline of when we should expect the vaccine to be made available to our hospitals and our people. Other countries are already working with and negotiating with vaccine developers and manufacturers for a quick and easy procurement process once they’re available. I hope we have plans to do the same. We can’t afford to get left behind. We in the Senate are ready to include the budget for the vaccination program in the Bayanihan II bill, or maybe the 2021 national budget.

Zubiri is hoping the president will mention CREATE, the revised CITIRA bill.

CREATE, or the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act, proposes an unprecedented 5 percent corporate tax cut. This is to help businesses rebuild, recover, and retain jobs for their employees.

Beyond jumpstarting the economy, Zubiri also brought up the impact of COVID-19 on education, saying, “I also hope to hear the President talk about the incoming school year, which is going to be challenging. I’m talking from the province right now, and I know first-hand how difficult it is to get internet connection in remote areas—if families even have devices to use in the first place.”