The congressional debate hosted by dyHB has centered on the bets of the two biggest local political parties here.
Incumbent Bacolod Cong. Greg Gasataya, his challenger Grupo Progreso bet Dan Atayde, and independent candidate Wilfredo David addresses issues on, among others, the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the need for more hospitals, and experience in public service (or the lack of it).
ON HEALTH CARE
“There has to be compensation for the frontliners a need to improve their salaries,” Gasataya said on the issue of providing better pay for health care workers, adding there is also a need to investigate Philhealth, which has been besieged with allegations of bankruptcy and corruption.
Atayde, meanwhile, said that focus should be on the wages and hazard pay of nurses.
“We will help augment additional salary; people needs nurses. We will file a bill to make their wages go up,” he said.
On Russian-Ukraine war
Meanwhile, Gasataya said the Ukraine-Russia conflict has affected the transportation and manufacturing sectors.
“I am backing the temporary suspension of excise tax to help our people as well as the stakeholders who are affected by the war,” the congressman said.
Atayde said, on the other hand, that the war has affected the prices of fuel and commodities, thus the need to review the EPIRA law.
ON BUDGET ALLOCATION AND REFORM
Health should be given a bigger piece of the pie if Gasataya would have his way, with education following suit.
Atayde on the other hand agrees to a budget reform, we need to prepare, including the augmentation of the budget of the Department of Health.
