Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday, July 27, maintained that the government should focus on its pandemic response efforts, stressing that it should be the country’s top priority.
The country’s second-highest official delivered a 15-minute address dubbed “Ulat ni VP Leni” on Tuesday, July 27, a day after President Duterte’s nearly-three-hour State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Robredo was not able to attend the SONA physically, and instead watched via Zoom at home, because she is not yet fully vaccinated.
“All hands on deck, laser like focus ang kailangan (is what we need),” Robredo said, adding that every budget, agenda, and memo of the government should be focused on addressing the pandemic.
The vice president made the statement during her public address aired via Facebook, as various politicians ramp up their pre-election campaign for the May 2022 polls.
Without naming names, she pointed out that anyone who feels the need to put up billboards and tarpaulins and to use graphic artists should use them instead to inform people how to prevent contracting the virus and to encourage more people to get vaccinated.
READ: Amid COVID-19 threats, Robredo dismayed at politicians focusing on 2022 polls
“Kung magpapasa ng mga bagong batas, unahin sana ang pondo at pagpapatibay ng mga sistema laban sa pandemya (When passing new laws, let it be for funds and a stronger system to combat the pandemic),” Robredo added.
Unlike other possible presidential candidates such as Senator Panfilo Lacson, and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, the vice president has not been touring the country except for her anti-poverty programs and COVID-19 initiatives.
Robredo has yet to decide whether to run for the country’s top post. She has repeatedly that her focus right now is on her office’s COVID-19 initiatives.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set the filing of the certificate of candidacy (COC) for national and local candidates from October 1 to 8, 2021 while the official campaign period will begin in February next year.