The Manila Times

Lacson promises good govt via fiscal reforms

BY JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

PARTIDO Reporma chairman and presidential ASPIRANT SEN. PANfiLO “PING” LACSON VOWED A CORRUPTION-FREE GOVERNMENT THROUGH EXHAUSTIVE fiSCAL REFORMS IF ELECTED IN THE MAY 9, 2022 national elections.

“Ma-solve lang natin ‘yung katiwalian, ‘yung korapsyon sa ating gobyerno, more than 50 percent of the problems of this country solved na. Pag-aralan ninyo. Ganoon talaga ‘yung rey

alidad, ganoon talaga, mawala lang ‘yung katiwalian (Once we solve our problem with corruption in the government, we already solved more than 50 percent of the problems of this country. Study this issue. That is the reality — it is what it is — we just need to get rid of corruption,” Lacson said in his speech in front of local government officials and public transport stakeholders in General Trias City, Cavite on Friday, December 3.

Lacson visited his hometown with his running mate Senate President Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto 3rd.

The former national police chief and veteran lawmaker who earned a reputation as a national budget watchdog in the Senate, recalled with nostalgia the simple joys of his youth when the national budget and its deficit have not yet ballooned to trillions of pesos.

Lacson said he wanted to synchronize the national budget with tax and revenue collections, which kept falling short over the years, leading to increased domestic and external debts. In 2022, the government plans to spend around P5.024-trillion against a projected deficit of P13.42-trillion.

He said his Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment program is a holistic and viable solution to address intergovernmental fiscal policy gaps, adding the national budget process and how it is being distributed is the “lifeblood” of the economy.

“Alam niyo, ‘pag bumara ‘yung ating budget [na] sabi ko lifeblood, stroke ang aabutin ng ating bayan… Eh baon na nga tayo sa utang, pagkatapos hindi mo pa gagastusin nang maayos ‘yung utang, saan tayo pupulutin? Wala, sa kangkungan (You know, if our budget, which as I have said is the lifeblood [of our economy] gets clogged, our nation will suffer a stroke. We are already buried in debts, and if we don’t spend our borrowed money judiciously, where do you think we would end up? Nowhere, in the ditch),” Lacson explained.

Lacson said he and Sotto will never abuse their power but give it back to the people when elected.

“Dapat ibalik natin ‘yung kapangyarihan sa taumbayan-panahon na. Ito, hindi dahil sa kampanya ngayon, ano. Kasi matagal ko na ring sinasabi ito. Hindi pa ako kumakandidato. So, I just hope na magising ‘yung ating mga kababayan (It’s about time we bring the power back to our people. I am not saying this just because I am campaigning. I have said this many times long before I decided to run for president. So, I hope our countrymen would wake up),” Lacson said.

Lacson said he and Sotto — with a combined 83 years in public service — have both consistently resisted bribery and abuse of authority while in office.

News

en-ph

2021-12-05T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-12-05T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://digitaledition.manilatimes.net/article/281578063949075

The Manila Times