Senate Passes Bayanihan 2

The Senate passed on third and final reading yesterday the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, which allocates P140 billion for the continued funding of the government’s programs to assist sectors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

- Paolo Romero

Dubbed Bayanihan 2, the measure extended the validity of the government’s COVID-19 programs and interventions under Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which lapsed on June 5 being an emergency legislation that granted President Duterte authority to realign funds to address the crisis.

“With Bayanihan 2, the government will be assured of sufficient funding for the ramped up COVID-19 testing and contact tracing. It will also ensure that our health workers who contract or succumb to the disease will continuously receive financial support,” Sen. Sonny Angara, chairman of the finance committee and sponsor of the measure, said.

“The measure will also allow the government to continue providing assistance to businesses and workers affected by the pandemic, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were either repatriated or whose deployments were suspended,” Angara added.

Duterte on Monday asked Congress to pass Bayanihan 2 to supplement funds for recovery and response against the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senators originally proposed a funding of over P600 billion but the Department of Finance stressed the government only has P140 billion to spare until the end of the year, so other financial aid programs in the bill were removed.

The chamber passed the bill on second reading before Congress adjourned on June 5.