Highlights of PRRD's address (27 July 2020)

Here are the highlights from the President's State of the Nation Address given today, 27 July 2020.

1. NATIONAL UPDATES

• Face-to-face learning by January 2021, only when vaccine is available

• Shift to e-learning (DepEd, CHED)

• DepEd directed to implement modular learning and TV and radio broadcast

• DepEd will provide blended modules in support of the learning continuity program to increase number of schools with ICT capability

• TV frequencies reverted back to government will be used for quality education

• CHED directed to provide scholarships for the dependents of displaced OFWs who returned to the country

• Internal security to bring peace and development to countryside, resort to various interventions

• Improve the rights and benefits of uniformed personnel

• Martial Law in Mindanao ended without abuse

• Resort to concerted efforts on saving environment

• Online scammers and profiteers will be dealt with strictly

• Online consumer and privacy loans should be strengthened now that there is a shift to digital transactions during the pandemic

• Salary Standardization Law to inspire government workers to perform better and encourage young and brilliant minds to join the government service

• EO No. 92 or the National Council Against Child Labor to protect the rights of children will be amplified to prevent, reduce, and eliminate any form of child labor

• EO No. 104 or Improving Access to Healthcare through the Regulation of Prices in the Retail of Drugs and Medicine proved providential now that the country is facing a pandemic

• Law postponing Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections

• Commended Build, Build, Build Program for significant infrastructure projects and how it yielded economic benefits for the country

• Special economic zone developments outside Metro Manila

• Appeal to BSP and other financial institutions to provide relief for MSMEs and allow loan payment extension without fees and charges

• Ease of Doing Business is gaining momentum and limiting overregulation

• National Academy for Sports to give student athletes adequate training and support from the government

• PRRD asks DSWD to conduct investigation for public utility drivers that were not given cash aids

2. COVID-19 HEALTHCARE UPDATES

• Ramping up testing capacity with 93 existing laboratories

• Conduct 1.5 million tests by end of July 2020

• In 2021, the goal to increase health personnel in LGUs, particularly in rural areas

• PRRD asks China's Xi Jinping to allow Philippines to be one of the first recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine and asks that PH be granted credit

3. CASH ASSISTANCE AND SUBSIDIES:

• A total of 4.3 million families benefited from the Pantawid Pamilya Program

• Over 92.3 million received their subsidies under the cash transfer program

• Pantawid Pasada for public utility drivers

• Stipend for senior citizens for the whole year of 2020

4. INNOVATIONS FOR GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE ESTABLISHMENTS

• Agri-business and entrepreneurship projects designed to help OFWs to rebui ld their lives (Call to DA and DTI)

• Provide upskill training for displaced OFWs to give them chance to have jobs in the country

• Online systems for all possible services (Call to DILG, ARTA, DBM, DICT)

• Convert to paperless type of business and work performance

• DBM, DILG, ARTA to help agencies migrate to online transactions and promote e-governance

• Deviate from physical queueing/lines

5. CALL TO IMPROVE TELCO SERVICES

• Deadline of December 2020

• Smart Telecommunications

• Globe Telecommunications

6. ESTABLISHMENT / CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION

• Balik Probinsya Program to improve social welfare towards the country side

• Malasakit Centers Act to promote the one-stop-shop platform

• Molecular laboratories nationwide

7. CALL TO LGUS

• PRRD lauded the efforts of LGUs, especially those that stepped up and initiated their own response measures to mitigate effects of COVID-19

• Barangay development programs with the support and assistance of LGU officials/leaders

• LGUs must harmonize their issuances to boost tourism and boost economy by travelling locally

8. CREATION OF DEPARTMENTS AND PROGRAMS / PASSAGE OF BILLS

• Department of OFWs

• Department of Disaster Resilience

• Revival of death penalty by lethal injection

• National Housing System

• Boracay Island Authority

• Coconut Farmers Trust Fund

• National Land Use Act

• Rental Act

• National Disease Prevention Authority

• Rural Agricultural Act

• Plant, Plant, Plant Program

• Unified system for separation of pension

• Nursing Education Act

• Modernization of the Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Immigration

• Rural Agricultural and Fisheries Financing Act

• Improvement of responsive e-commerce systems

• Second Bayanihan Act, a supplemental fund to facilitate economic recovery

• Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises or CREATE Act, which cuts income taxes of businesses

• FIST Act, which lets banks transfer non-performing loans so they can lend more to new borrowers

• Calls on the Congress to amend RA No. 10912 known as the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Act of 2016

• Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to work closely with Congress to pass Internet Transaction Act