Singer-actress and known Duterte admin critic Agot Isidro shared her frustration over ballooning government loans while COVID-19 cases continued to increase.
In her latest tweet, Agot shared a picture of Philippine Daily Inquirer’s article about the 593% increase in government loans saying it’s sad the taxpayers will need to pay for it long after the pandemic is gone.
“98 days lockdown, loans of billions of pesos, but the numbers of Covid cases are still swelling. These are loans that WE need to pay. Even after we recover from the pandemic, the effects will still be felt for a looong time.”
98 days lockdown, loans of billions of pesos, but the numbers of Covid cases are still swelling.
These are loans that WE need to pay. Even after we recover from the pandemic, the effects will still be felt for a looong time. pic.twitter.com/UGqFETHycY
— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) June 22, 2020
The Philippines has had community quarantine for more than a hundred days, which is considered as one of the longest—if not the longest—lockdown of a country hit by coronavirus crisis.
Alongside the quarantine restrictions is the ballooning list of loans which according to the government will be used to address the country’s needs to fight the pandemic and help people and the economy to cope up with these trying times.
According to a Rappler article, the Duterte government’s loans have already totaled 340.4 billion pesos.
| Source | Amount in million PHP | |
| 1 | ADB | 150,000,000 |
| 2 | ADB | 250,000,000 |
| 3 | World Bank | 25,000,000,000 |
| 4 | World Bank | 5,000,000,000 |
| 5 | ADB | 75,000,000,000 |
| 6 | ADB | 10,000,000,000 |
| 7 | ROP Bonds | 117,500,000,000 |
| 8 | ADB | 20,000,000,000 |
| 9 | AIIB, ADB | 37,500,000,000 |
| 10 | World Bank | 25,000,000,000 |
| 11 | ADB | 25,000,000,000 |
| Total | 340,400,000,000 |
However, what’s appalling is that the President claimed that the government doesn’t have enough money already.
In his most recent public address, Duterte said he might look for another money which indirectly saying thinking of borrowing again to buy transistor radios that will be used by students as their learning medium.
“Wala na tayong pera ngayon. I will look for the money to buy transistor radios to be distributed all throughout the country…We will try to do it,”
Netizens meanwhile shared Agot’s sentiments and tweeted their disappointment and frustration over the government’s bungled response to the crisis.
Puro loans wala man lang tayong nakitang progress sa pag handle ng cases. Baka naman ung loan gagamitin sa nalalapit na 2022 7 hr glitch. May pera din kasi ung ambisyosong homophobic boxer.
— CatcherInTheRye (@Catcher158) June 22, 2020
Hindi pa nga tapos bayaran yung utang ng naunang diktador nilublob na naman sa utang mga kaapu-apuhan ni Juan! 😭😭😭
— Rebelheart (@tuwitart) June 22, 2020
And the government dares to say that they don't have enough funds anymore. So saan napunta? 😶😶😶
— 𝓜𝓸𝓷𝓲𝓬𝓪 施美嘉 (@LMCPena) June 22, 2020
https://twitter.com/grillllzz/status/1275016690086973440
