MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has finally signed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2) into law, which will provide a P165-billion coronavirus relief package, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea confirmed last night.
The Bayanihan 2, which was ratified by the Senate and House of Representatives last month, consists of P140 billion worth of regular appropriations and an additional P25.5 billion standby fund.
The Department of Health will receive P3 billion for additional face masks and personal protective equipment, alongside P13.5 billion for emergency employment and health workers compensation.
Around P4.5 billion will also be set aside for the construction of temporary isolation and quarantine facilities as well as the expansion of existing public hospitals. A separate P820 million fund will be given to the Department of Foreign Affairs for repatriation efforts.
Some P4.5 billion is also allotted for the Department of National Defense to cover expenses in isolating and treating returning overseas Filipino workers who tested positive for the coronavirus.
Roughly P13 billion will be used to aid displaced workers through cash-for-work and other forms of assistance while P6 billion will be given to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for cash assistance in areas under lockdown.
The law also sets aside P5 billion to hire and train some 50,000 contact tracers and a P10 billion standby fund for COVID-19 testing and purchase of vaccines once they become available.
The Bayanihan 2 requires President Duterte to submit a formal report to the Congress monthly until the end of the year with regards to how the stimulus package funds were spent./PN
