MANILA – The “Bayanihan to Recover as One Act” has been approved by the Senate on third and final reading on Tuesday, a day after it was pushed by President Rodrigo Duterte in his penultimate State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
In 22-1 voting, the senators passed Senate Bill 1564, the second version of the Bayanihan Law, which would aid the government in addressing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Bayanihan II focuses on COVID-19 recovery interventions and response to the health crisis, and establishes a P140-billion standby fund for socioeconomic and health programs.
The measure provides emergency subsidy for low-income households, assistance to affected teachers and students, among others.
President Duterte appealed to lawmaker during his fifth SONA last Monday at the Batasang Pambansa to give Bayanihan II the same treatment and priority.
“This health emergency stretched the government’s resources to its limits. I hope they can [give] the same treatment of clarity, purpose, and fastness to support the passage of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act,” Duterte said.
Bayanihan II was among measures President Duterte pushed in his congressional wish list during his SONA. He also called for approval of other stimulus bills, creation of new government agencies, and a revival of the death penalty, among others.
With both chambers of Congress already passed Bayanihan II on third and final reading, there will be a bicameral conference committee meeting together with the executive department to harmonize conflicting provisions in the measure./PN
