SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano said that the country should prioritize fixing the education crisis before it is too late.

“Nangangamba ako na magkaroon tayo ng malaking malaking crisis because of the education crisis. Nag-add tayo ng two years para maging K-to-12, pero marami sa urban areas ngayon ay half-day [classes] na lang, so maiiwan tayo,” Cayetano said.

He added that the Covid19 pandemic exacerbated the learning crisis in the country.

“Naiwan na tayo nung last three years dahil panay modular, mahina internet natin, ‘tsaka nahirapan tayo sa distance learning. Pero kapag hindi natin maayos na mabalik ng whole day ang pasukan, at ang ginawa natin ay nagbawas na lamang sa curriculum, magigising na lang tayo 10 years from now na naunahan na tayo ng maliliit na bansa sa South East Asia,” he said.

Cayetano said in the short term, he hopes the government will see to it that millions of Filipinos are helped with their livelihood and economic development.

“In the short term kailangan talaga ang pagtulong sa livelihood, ang pagkalat ng pera sa sulok-sulok na lugar sa bansa,” he said.

“Ito pong ayuda, kung gagawin itong mas methodological at mabibigyan ang bawat pamilya at probinsya, iikot talaga ang pera,” he said.

He added that the government can be more methodological in its distribution of assistance to aid families, especially those in the grassroots.

“May pera ang gobyerno, at may magagandang programa, how to get it to the grassroots. Kasi nga dalawa ang Pilipinas – isang sobrang maasenso, gumaganda ang buhay at negosyo, pero ‘yung kabila na talagang hirap na hirap na talaga,” he added.

Cayetano said in the immediate sense, the government needs to strike a good balance amid the worldwide rise of inflation.

“Kahit anong ganda ng performance, pero kung mahirap ang buhay, at ‘yung presyo pataas nang pataas, marami pa rin ang nag-aapply ng trabaho, tapos maliit ang kita, ang tingin ko talagang y’ung challenge ay malaki. Yung grades at sipag ng gobyerno, nandiyan naman talaga, pero y’ung challenge ay worldwide,” he said.