Robredo releases pandemic response plan

The camp of Presidential candidate Leni Robredo released her pandemic response plan yesterday, amid President Duterte’s declining popularity ratings which her group blames entirely on the administration’s failed strategies in addressing the health crisis. “Para mapabilis ang ating tuluyang paglaya sa COVID, ang kailangan klaro, malawakan, strategic, at mapagpalayang tugon,” Robredo said in a video message posted in all her official social media accounts, including the website lenirobredo.com.

Presented as three freedoms, Robredo also presented her programs to solve hunger and the lack of education in the country. Kalayaan mula sa Pangambang Magkasakit, Kalayaan sa Gutom and Kalayaan sa Kakulangan sa Edukasyon were the catchphrases in her campaign to be elected to the highest position in the May 2022 elections. The eight-point pandemic response and recovery plan, dubbed “Kalayaan sa COVID” (Freedom from COVID-19) plan, was released on Wednesday, November 3, 2021. It includes a clear plan to address the pandemic, transparency in the procurement of health-related supplies and “sufficient” wages and benefits that are immediately released to health workers and adequate financial support for hospitals—all the vital points that the Duterte administration failed to do since the start of the global health scare. Robredo’ said she consulted experts and various sectors and incorporated her group’s experience on the ground in coming up with the detailed plan. She also said she will create an audit team for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, which was on the spotlight in the last few months for alleged anomalies.

Robredo will also push for free COVID-19 testing for all Filipinos, sufficient vaccines, increasing the capacity of hospitals, assigning a nurse for each barangay and the deployment of a free teleconsultation service, like her the Office of the Vice President’s E-Konsulta. Robredo believes Filipinos should receive financial aid during lockdowns, which should only be implemented in targeted areas.

Once in office, Robredo plans to set aside P216 billion for the cash aid and the National ID system will be used to ensure the immediate distribution of the assistance. She will also push for cash aid for people who were laid off during the pandemic so they could receive 80% of their salaries. A P68-billion “education aid,” she added will be used to provide P300 per month or P3,000 per year for every student to be used for purchasing cellphone load or for the printing of modules.

The comprehensive plan was launched as Robredo and running mate Kiko Pangilinan said they will strive to run a “people’s campaign.” Meanwhile, Rom Cannen of Canada-based BC Kami Kay Leni, said the group’s comprehensive strategic plan is aimed at “converting the undecided” segment of the voting population. “We are doing these activities in the hopes na yung mga undecided dito will vote for Robredo-Pangilinan,” Cannen told PCN.

The Caravan of Hope which is set to launch these activities will be participated in by groups from Victoria, Mainland Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and Manitoba on Sunday, November 14, 2021. The groups were initiated by different groups who networked recently.

For the Montreal leg of the caravan, the groups will meet at 10 a.m. at the Parc Mackenzie-King, 4900 Chemin de la Cote Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC H3W 306 (near Rizal Park). Earlier, the groups in Vancouver said they will converge in Memorial South Park on 41st Avenue, Prince Albert, Vancouver and will gather in Minoru Park, 7191 Granville Avenue, Richmond after the caravan. The Toronto leg of the caravan will start at 1441 Clark Avenue West, Thornhill, Ontario and will end in Earl Bales Park at 4169 Bathurst Street, Toronto. It will start at 10 a.m. The Winnipeg group will have the Kildonan Park as meeting and culminating venue of the activity, which will start at 12:30 p.m. For more information and for those who want to join, they may contact the following:

For Vancouver (BC) TREENEE 6047739192 * RENE 604-603-6410 TOM 604-817-8000 * MEL 778-867-1005 SHIRLEY 604-512-8285 * ERIE 604-366-7218 * ELENA –60-690-0551* AMADO III 604-783-0875 For Victoria (BC) ROM 604-761-5814* MAI-250-884-2497* OFELIA– 778-838-10878 * ROY 431-335-2588 For Edmonton/Calgary (Alberta) EDWIN 403-860-0907* MANNY 780-802-0848 * JOSEPH 780-237-8426 For Toronto (Ontario) VON 905-781-6165 For Montreal (Quebec) TENNEROSE 514-963-7512 For Winnipeg (Manitoba) manitobansforleni@gmail.com