Representatives from the urban poor and small business sectors said that presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo’s Kalaayan sa COVID Plan was “clear and relevant” as the pandemic continues to be the country’s top problem.
“Her platform is clear and timely because the pandemic is the number one problem in our country now. It is clear that she will prioritize this,” said former kagawad Josefina de la Serna of Barangay 599 in
Sta. Mesa Manila, Manila at a small gathering with fellow Kakampinks after Robredo’s Kalayaan sa COVID Plan was released in various social media platforms on November 3.
Other supporters of the Vice President also joined a Facebook Live discussion hosted by Team Leni Robredo.
These included the Nanays for Leni and Alliance of Labor Leaders For Leni (ALL4Leni) led by their spokesperson and senatorial candidate, Atty. Sonny Matula.
Matula said the current administration missed opportunities to regularize employees and failed to support small businesses as they reeled from the outbreak of the pandemic last year by choosing to import PPEs instead of sourcing them locally.
Nanays for Leni representative Bernadette Cariaga described Robredo’s COVID plan as a “first step” after she read the blueprint for the “Kalayaan sa Kakulangan sa Edukasyon” (Freedom from Inadequate Education).
Before face-to-face classes resume, Cariaga said schools must ensure that all personnel are vaccinated, proper handwashing facilities are available, food is handled and provided safely, and social distancing is still observed.
The different sectoral representatives at the Facebook Live discussion also shared their current situation and immediate needs.
“What small businesses really need now is new capital, new markets, and trying to be accepted again in the market, trying to find employees again. It’s back to square one for us,” said Maan Dela Cruz Sicam, a small business owner.
Small businesses continue to suffer from decreasing sales and increasing costs, which now include sizable healthcare expenses for employees. Sicam reiterated that most staff were afraid of getting tested for COVID-19 because testing positive would mean isolation and missing days of work.
