ROXAS TO GOV'T: ACT NOW, SAVE PEOPLE FROM LOSING JOBS

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today called on the government to act now to prevent foreseen mass layoffs of Filipinos both here and abroad as a result of the global financial crisis.

"Sa grabe ng krisis sa Estados Unidos, ay siguradong maaapektuhan ang trabaho ng ating mga OFW, ang exporting industries, at pati na rin ang mga nasa call center dito. Ang tanong lang ay - paano nating iiwasan ang pinakamasamang epekto nito (With the extent of the crisis in the United States, it is sure that our OFWs, exporting industries and even our call centers will be affected. The only question is - how do we avoid the worst effects of this)?" Roxas said.

"Ngayon pa lang, dapat dagdagan ang tulong sa ating domestic industry, para hindi sila magsara sa kabila nitong napipintong financial tsunami. Huwag na nating hintayin na mangyari ito. Magsiguro na tayo na hindi ito mangyari (As early as now, there should be an increase in assistance of our domestic industry, so that businesses don't close as a result of this impending financial tsunami. Let's not wait for this to happen. Let's be sure it doesn't happen)," he said.

He noted that when the 2009 budget was first proposed by Malacañang in August, the crisis had not been fully considered. "Nananawagan ako sa Pangulo na magpatawag ng multi-party budget summit kung saan, amyendahan natin, papalitan natin, i-realign natin ang bugdet sa ganoon malagay natin ang pera natin doon sa higit kailangan (I call on the President to convene a multi-party budget summit where we can revise and realign next year's budget, so that we can place our money where it is most needed)," he said.

"Hindi pwede ang pangkarinawang kalakaran na kaunti rito, kaunti doon, tapos wala naman tayong napapala. Mahalaga na may direksyon ang ating pondo. Dagdagan natin ang pondo ng agrikuktura at ang ating mga magsasaka ang makasisiguro na may supply tayo para sa lahat, at hindi na tayo bibili ng bigas sa iba (We can't go on putting a little money here and there, with nothing gained. It's important to have direction in funding. Let's increase funds for agriculture, and our farmers will ensure that there is enough supply for all, and we will no longer buy rice from abroad)," he said.

The Ilonggo senator also stressed the need to boost education spending, so as to provide students with the tools needed to get good jobs.