Marino Party-list first Representative Sandro Gonzalez has urged the government to develop a transportation road map under the ‘new normal’, one which is inclusive to the needs of the transportation employees as well as the riding public.
Through House Resolution No. 841 he filed on May 7, Gonzalez, who vice chairs the House Committee on Transportation, hopes to address the growing concerns on massive job layoffs in the transportation sector due to the ill effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country’ economy.
“Under the new normal, physical distancing and travel restrictions in affected areas has had major implications for transport mobility and connectivity, as well as cumulative impacts on the basic infrastructure systems that keep markets and supply chains going,” Gonzalez noted.
“This magnifies the effects not just on health, but also on education, jobs and economic inclusion as people cease travelling and goods stop circulating,” he added.
Per government data, the transportation sector supports 1.2 million jobs and contributes at least US$10 billion in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Recently, several transport companies have already laid off a number of their employees to catch up with the losses due to the pandemic, to which the solon said the government should intervene and develop mechanisms to keep jobs in the sector afloat while observing existing health protocols.
The solon likewise requested the House of Representatives to provide tax incentives and stimulus packages for the critical industries under the transportation sector such as land, air, and maritime.
“Keeping transport systems running while observing the necessary health protocols must be a crucial part of the response to the pandemic, not just to curb its spread but also to rekindle economic activity and to ensure that the poor are shielded from its immediate and long-term impacts,” Gonzalez said.
