Thread by @PhilippineStar

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon is urging President Duterte to call for a special session of Congress for lawmakers to pass "Bayanihan 3" or another law authorizing him to realign funds for emergency cash aid programs. | @PaoloSRomero

@PaoloSRomero Drilon: "After all, it is the ineptitude of the Department of Health and the IATF which brought us to this situation." | @PaoloSRomero

@PaoloSRomero Drilon recalls how the lockdown a year ago, the longest lockdown in the world, left 7.6 million families hungry while unemployment rose to 17.7 percent or equivalent to around 7.3 million unemployed Filipinos in April last year due to the lockdown. | @PaoloSRomero

@PaoloSRomero Drilon: "We cannot let another 7.6 million Filipino families go hungry this year. Our inaction or delayed action can make another 7.3 million Filipinos lose their jobs again this month. We cannot let businesses permanently shut down." | @PaoloSRomero

@PaoloSRomero Other senators, however, say there might not be enough fund nor loans to tap for emergency cash aid and other assistance to those affected by the pandemic. | @PaoloSRomero

@PaoloSRomero Sen. Panfilo Lacson says while the intention to pass a Bayanihan 3 may be good, "let us first take a serious look at the situation." | @PaoloSRomero

@PaoloSRomero Lacson notes the Department of Budget and Management already warned the government coffers have dried up, hence funds are no longer available. | @PaoloSRomero

@PaoloSRomero Lacson: "The bigger question remains: Can we still afford more borrowings intended for dole-outs instead of for other productive purposes to boost our economy? The last thing we need is ending up in a 'Sisyphean' situation." | @PaoloSRomero

@PaoloSRomero Lacson: "Our best option is to have a sense of urgency, allow private sector more participation and better flexibility in the vaccination program-true to the government's 'whole-of-nation approach' theme, which is turning out to be mere platitude and lip service." | @PaoloSRomero