Former House speaker and Taguig-Pateros Representative Alan Peter Cayetano has urged the government to adopt an economic roadmap that would support the country’s medical approach against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Cayetano said the roadmap should contain national and local priorities, as well as a timeline for its implementation.
In a radio interview recently, Cayetano said while the medical approach to the pandemic is important, Filipinos are also worried about having enough money to buy food and other basic necessities.
"It’s easy to say that you’re eating and sleeping well when you can afford it. So it’s important that we also look at the economy,’’ he said..
The country saw its worst economic contraction last year since the Second World War. Inflation hit a two-year high in February as the prices of basic goods skyrocketed early this year.
Cayetano cited the American Rescue Plan, an economic stimulus package enacted by the United States Congress early this year. The measure has allocated funding to address unemployment, expand employee benefits, expand tax credits, support businesses and schools, support housing programs, and reinforce the US healthcare system.
He said having an economic roadmap will also help boost investor confidence in the country.
‘’We need to have a plan. We need to be proactive. Once the government offers a plan, the investments will come in, so long as the situation is predictable,’’ he added.