Presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo suggested making alcohol and gambling more inaccessible to the public, saying it is the constitutional obligation of the government to protect the welfare of Filipinos, especially the children.
Robredo made the statement during the Usapang Halalan forum of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) aired Friday evening, March 25.
According to Robredo, the government must find ways to regulate and ensure that alcohol and gambling would be more inaccessible to the people so they will not endanger the welfare of Filipino families.
"Ang gobyerno, obligasyon niyang siguruhin na kung pinapayagan niya yung pagbibili ng alcohol, kung pinapayagan niya yung gambling, hindi siya makarating doon sa state na nakakasira na siya sa welfare ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino (It's the government's obligation to ensure that if they allow the sale of alcohol and gambling activities, these will not reach the state that it is destructive for the welfare of Filipino families)," she said.
The Vice President said there are many ways to regulate alcohol consumption, like having a more strict law against drunk driving, having a minimum age requirement when buying alcoholic beverages, and not allowing minors to enter establishments that offer alcohol.
She added that the government could impose a higher tax on alcohol products to increase their prices and make it difficult for the public to attain them.
Robredo likewise suggested that government should offer alternative ways for people to have fun to address alcoholism and gambling.
"Nag-uumpisa yung pag-iinom pagsusugal sa paglilibang. 'Pag ang gobyerno nag-offer siya ng alternatives na hindi siya nakakasama, merong pagpipiliin ang tao (Alcoholism and gambling starts with the desire to have fun. If the government can offer alternatives that are not bad for the public, then they will have another option)," she said.
However, Vice President Robredo said the government must also be prepared to extend institutional help when alcoholism becomes an addiction.
"Isang problema ito na dapat hinaharap (This is a problem that we should face)," she said.
"Dapat may mapupuntahan yung mga Filipino na nalululong dito para matulungan sila na makabalik sa normal at maka-function nang normal (Filipinos who become addicted to alcohol should have a place to turn to so they can get help returning to normal and function normally)," she added.
Robredo said the government should not just decide based on the revenue it is getting, especially when the welfare of Filipinos is on the line.
"Para sa akin yung social cost priceless yun, eh. Hindi yun nabibigyan ng presyo. No amount of revenues na pumapasok can compensate doon sa nasisirang mga buhay (For me, social cost is priceless. You cannot put a price tag on that. No amount of revenues can compensate for ruined lives)," she said.
"Yung diskusyon na sayang kasi maraming revenues na pumapasok, hindi ko yun binibili. Kasi kahit pa gaano kalaki yung pumapasok na pera para sa atin, kung buhay ng Filipino ang nasisira dapat mas konsiderasyon natin yun (I don't but the reason about the revenues coming in. No matter how big of an amount the government is getting, if it is destroying the lives of the Filipino, then we should consider the latter more)," she added.