Rizal 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles lauded all workers who are working to ensure Filipino families are protected against the threat of COVID-19 on Labor Day.
“Nagbibigay-pugay tayo hindi lamang sa frontliners natin. A lot of industries are working triple-time so that the country can cope with the crisis we are currently facing.”
“Congress must take steps so that the country could recover.”
“Without our workers who risk life and limb so that our basic needs and even comforts are met, we would be in even deeper trouble,” Nograles said.
The neophyte lawmaker on Friday said the challenge for Congress is to create policies that would address the major labor crisis affecting the country due to the pandemic.
Most industries have ground to a halt, said Nograles, and Congress must take steps so that the country could recover.
According to the Department of Labor and Employment, more than 2 million Filipinos, aside from 200,000 overseas Filipino workers, have been displaced from their jobs, with more than 79,000 firms affected.
The labor department said it would need an additional budget of P9.7 billion to provide financial assistance to displaced workers.
“We wish to assure our kababayans that we in Congress are doing everything we can so we can fund various social support programs,” said the solon.
The lawmaker also emphasized the need for greater collaboration between the government, academe, and the private sector.
“We cannot expect to return to the old ways after this virus passes. We have to adjust, to evolve, at kailangan magtulungan ang lahat sa pag-isip ng solusyon na pakikinabangan ng nakararami.”