SENATOR Risa Hontiveros on Monday stressed that education and health are two of the most urgent points of recovery for the country post-pandemic.

“Recovery is an illusion without appropriate and urgent action in these sectors,” Hontiveros said.

She called on the President to convene departments “for an aggressive and collaborative whole-of-government approach to education, and oversee quality spending of the budget.”

She said that many students, teachers and health care workers are burnt out.

“Marami ang naiiwan at nadedehado dahil sa inequitable distribution of benefits and support. Mabigat na epekto sa serbisyo at ekonomiya. Kaya hindi pwedeng business-as-usual,” the senator added.

Hontiveros said that the lack of support for healthcare workers and teachers will have dire consequences on the quality of healthcare and education.

“Mas pinagtutuunan ng pansin ng DepEd ang pag-alam at pagbusisi sa kasapian ng mga unyon at asosasyon ng mga guro. It creates an environment of fear and anxiety for overworked and underpaid teachers who rely on unions and associations to demand better working conditions. Kinukumpromiso ang kaligtasan at seguridad, at academic freedom nila,” she said.