Opening Statement of Senator Loren Legarda | Hearing of the Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy (PROTECT) Committee | March 24, 2026

I have a written opening statement, but I’d like to put it on the record, and I would like to propose, Mr. Chair, una, thank you. I believe that the Defense establishment must be represented. I know that they were invited yesterday. Are they here? DND? Ah, nandiyan po si Usec. Ok, thank you very much.

I would just like to put on the table, Mr. Chair, ang mga binabanggit po ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno, ‘yung mga plano, importante po it is done in record time. At ang pinakamahalaga ay alamin magkano ba ang continuing appropriations sa GAA 2025 na maaaring gamitin ngayon sa krisis.

Pangalawa, ano ba ang naka-provide sa GAA 2026 na puwedeng gamitin para sa krisis na ito? Huwag na tayo lost in translation or nagmamaang-maangan na may krisis. Until we define it as a crisis, we will not act in record time to save our people.

So, each agency represented here must act as if we are in a crisis because we are in a crisis. Anybody who says, chill lang tayo, wala namang krisis, no. Halintulad ko sa climate crisis not now. If we never admit there’s a climate crisis, we will not take care of our climate and environment. If we do not admit that there’s a crisis in the Middle East affecting our OFWs and their families, affecting the prices of our petroleum products, energy, food prices, transport, and displacing millions of Filipinos, the agencies will not act with urgency.

And so, that’s what I put on the table and what I would like to hear, Mr. Chair, is magkano ang pondong available? Hindi promise ha. Hindi SARO na walang NCA from continuing appropriations in GAA 2025 and how much was appropriated because of course, we did not know there was going to be a crisis, of soft, meaning assistance to fisherfolks and farmers, contingency fund, the NDRRM fund can be used; hindi naman ‘yan lang sa bagyo, ‘yan ay puwede ring gamitin. But if we have appropriated it in GAA 2026, may pera na ba? And I know, we don’t have money yet because even DPWH projects are all FLR. So, DBM must explain that, as well.

So, every agency, whether agriculture or DMW or DOE, DOLE, yes, how do we cusion the impact? I lay that as my premise, Mr. Chair, and you, being the Chair of the Committee on Finance, because we can have all these PowerPoints, pero ‘pag kumakalam ang tiyan ng mga mangingisda, ng mga drivers ng mga nasa transport sector, ng lahat, ang dating middle class ay ngayon, lower class na at hirap. So, gusto nating makita ang pag-translate ng mga PowerPoint, na ginawa sa mga air-conditioned na tanggapan, into actual jobs created, actual food on the table of every affected Filipino family. And I will ask, I need to know the answer. Dapat ito, on the ground ha, on the ground. Hindi tayo parang budget hearing tapos prospective. Ipaliwanag ng DTI, ipaliwanag ng DA, ipaliwanag ng DOE, ipaliwanag ng DBM, ipaliwanag ng lahat kung papaano at ilan ang mapapakain natin.

Kamukha sinabi, 40,000 farmers and fishers, fisherfolks ang matutulungan ng subsidiya. Alam naman ng expert natin sa agrikultura at fisheries, hindi lang 40,000. ‘Yung iba, hahayaan na lang nating mamatay o magutom?

That’s my opening statement pa lang at gusto ko malaman ang maliwanag, on the ground na kasagutan. At isa pa, Mr. Chair. Sigurado akong natanong mo na o tatanungin mo. Anong mga pondo sa 2025 ang hindi nagagamit na puwedeng huwag na ito? Ano sa 2026 na tatawagin nating… I’ll call a spade a spade, luho na travel, party-party, kanselin lahat ‘yan. At paano ‘yung pamamaraan na ikalap ‘yang pondong ‘yan para ibigay hindi lang sa piniling 40,000 na magsasaka’t mangingisda. Lahat at lahat ng mga drivers, lahat ng mga apektado sa krisis na ito. And I bring it back to my first statement. We must first admit that there is a crisis for us, for all of us to act with urgency. And we must admit that it can’t be the usual way things are. And everybody in the government, especially in the Executive, must admit on regular times, you are slow, painfully slow. And the DBM knows this and we know that because we’ve been doing the budget for decades now. Your utilization, your implementation is so slow, with the exception of some agencies like DSWD. I think Sec. Rex is the only Cabinet member… When I call, half a ring, he answers. And he’s quick, he’s on the ground, he knows what’s happening. I wish everybody could emulate that. ‘Yung iba, nagtatago.

So, having said that, Mr. Chair, I did not want to deliver a motherhood opening statement. I want to hear from DTI, how will you lower the prices of basic commodities? I want to hear from the DOF and BIR and DOE and ERC, how will you delete the collection of VAT on those that are not supposed to be VATable, and I hope you know what I’m talking about. You better be prepared.

That’s my opening statement, Mr. President. This applies to everyone, all the resource persons who are here. I hope to receive the answers in the next few minutes or hours.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.