MANGANTI – 1 June 3, 2020 3:50 p.m.

(PO – Deputy Speaker Gonzales, A.)

REP. ROMAN. … the private sector but most especially Civil Defense

and the LGUs to coordinate and continuously prepare our nation for future

outbreaks while making the necessary mid and long-term investments to make

our nation resilient.

But as a whole, alam po ninyo ang ating lipunan, society also has its share

of mea culpas. Our citizens should have to ask themselves if we, in the face of

the COVID-19 crisis, have acted in accordance with our personal interests or

have we have acted for the collective good. When I hear stories, mga kuwento

po ng mga individuals who misdeclare their real health status to circumvent the

quarantine protocols, nalulungkot po ako. When I hear of stories of unscrupulous

barangay officials, and thank God konti lang naman po sila, who have prioritized

their own families, inuna ang sarili sa pagdi-distribute ng SAP, naiinis po talaga

ako. And when I hear stories of people who have treated this crisis as a money-

making venture, I am disgusted sa totoo lang.

The COVID crisis has also exposed the weaknesses of our educational

system that has remained anchored, stuck in the traditional method of face-to-

face teaching. In our neighboring countries here in Asia, in Europe, and in the

United States, students have shifted to online classes with utmost ease.

Napakadali para sa kanila because they have already integrated online teaching

even before COVID-19. Students in other countries also benefit from online

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MANGANTI – 1 June 3, 2020 3:50 p.m.

libraries which do not only cut costs in terms of books but also promote reading

and competence while saving our forests.

My dear colleagues, what are we waiting for? We have already passed

the Free Wi-Fi and Internet Access Act for all public places including schools.

Na-implement ka na ba? I have also filed the Philippine Online Library Bill which

mandates the digitization of all required reading materials for all levels of

schooling to facilitate online learning, online learning para sa ating mga mag-

aaral. This is a wake-up call. Innovation does not only involve technology which

admittedly could be costly. Mahal po ang innovation, but we have to approach

innovation from an organizational approach. Had we started investing in

distance-learning earlier on, this pandemic would not have set back the

education of our children.

My dear colleague, Mr. Speaker, as a whole, society and mankind will

have to reassess its priorities and reevaluate the ways in which we live as well as

our relationships with our fellowmen, the community of nations, the environment

and God Almighty, placing our multitude of values on a balance. Ano ba talaga

ang mahalaga sa atin? Ang economic development at all costs ba o ang

environment? Ang health ba o ang work at ang eskuwela? Ang tao ba ang

tunay na master ng kanyang kapalaran o ang Diyos ba? These are philosophical

questions that have practical repercussions which we, as leaders, must ponder.

Any good leadership is always value-based, so we have to ask ourselves: Ano

ba talaga ang ating mga values?

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MANGANTI – 1 June 3, 2020 3:50 p.m.

Mr. Speaker, my dear colleagues, as we hopefully draw nearer to

restoring our lives and rebuilding our country, let us remember that the lessons

we have learned and continue to learn from this pandemic came at a great price,

the lives of millions of people around the world. Huwag nating sayangin ang

pagkakataon upang matutunan ang mga mahahalagang leksyon sa krisis na ito

at upang mag-take action with a sense of urgency at maging laging handa.

Maraming, maraming salamat po!

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Gonzales, A.) Majority Leader.

REP. TADURAN. Mr. Speaker, there being no interpellator for our …

/rmm