00:00Now is the best time, I would say, to assess what the government is doing so far and to inquire
00:06on the economic impact of the Middle East tension, not just to our country as a whole, but more specifically
00:11to the Filipino households.
00:13Mr. Chair, neighboring countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia are already implementing measures in the form of suspension of import
00:21tariffs, extensive government subsidies, and activating their oil fund and strategic reserves in terms of providing relief to the people.
00:29They have moved decisively while we are trailing behind and caught unprepared. It is our minimum wage earners, the PUV
00:37drivers, our OFWs, and Filipino breadwinners who bear the heaviest burden of the crisis. Our response must go beyond providing
00:46aid. It must be about systematic protection.
00:49Kailangan rin po natin pagtuunan ng pansin ang ating mga middle class income earners na siyang bubuo sa 40%
00:56ng ating populasyon.
00:58Sina rin po ang sumasalot mapasan sa bigat ng krisis na itong ngunit walang nakalaang ayuda para sa kanila.
01:06Mayroong po panawagan sa ating maahensya tungkol sa pagbuo ng Interagency Task Force para sa kolektibong pagkilos ng gobyernos sa
01:15panahon ng ganitong krisis.
01:16May ina po sana na sa gitna ng krisis ay agarang itong ibinuoh at kumikilos upang makpagbigay din ang agarang
01:23mga solusyon.
01:24Mr. Chair, I agree with my colleague, Senator Bam, that we are already in crisis. Hindi na po normal ang
01:30sitwasyon.
01:30And what we have to do right now is do the preparations just like during the COVID when there was
01:37uncertainty.
01:37Hindi po natin alam hanggang kailan at kung saan patutunguan ang nangyayari pong krisis na ito.
01:44Dapat ganun din po ang preparasyon na ginagawa ng mga ahensya.
02:01Dapat ganun din po ating maahensya.
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