Recto files Bayanihan 3 or Bayanihan to Rebuild As One Act
As
of December 13, 2020, the bulletin issued by the Department of Health (DOH)
revealed that there have been 449,400 coronavirus (COVID)-19 cases in the
country, of which 8,733 people have died.
In response to the unprecedented challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11469 otherwise known as the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act” in April, 2020 and R.A. No. 11494 otherwise known as the “Bayanihan to Recover as One Act” in September, this year.
These
laws which are commonly known as Bayanihan 1 and 2, respectively, aided in
putting in place stronger mechanisms in preventing and controlling COVID-19,
reactivating the disrupted economic activities and re-opening of shuttered
industries and enterprises.
These
laws set up social safety nets to help struggling sectors cope with the impacts
of the pandemic.
Bayanihan
1 and 2 also instituted moratoriums in paying loans, rents and utilities.
Notwithstanding
these measures which cushion the socio-economic impact of the pandemic, our
agony is not yet over as three typhoons which badly hit the Philippines in
October and November 2020 had exacerbated the disastrous impact of COVID-19.
We
were not yet able to fully flatten the curve and yet our country had already
been battered by typhoons Roily, Quinta and Ulysses which came in succession in two weeks’ time.
These
three typhoons affected a total number of 1.25 million families, caused 119
deaths and left P14.9 and P9.8 worth of damages in infrastructure and
agriculture, respectively.
If
we were quick to act on Bayanihan 1 and 2, certainly, we can fast track this
Bayanihan 3 as a continuing response to soften the impact of an economic downturn,
accelerate the economic recovery of the country and respond to the urgent needs
of areas battered by the recent typhoons.
This
situation prompted Senator Ralph Recto to file Senate Bill No. 1953
Bayanihan 3, otherwise known as the Bayanihan
to Rebuild as One Act, aims to provide P485 Billion to help the country
bounce back, to wit:
1.
P55 Billion for the procurement of COVID-19 medication and vaccines;
2.
P55 Billion to be allocated for the handling of vaccines, hiring of contact tracers,
testing and treatment under PhilHealth, and payment of actual hazard duty pay;
3.
P100 Billion for worker subsidies;
4.
P100 Billion for the capacity building of critically impacted sectors;
5.
P70 Billion for additional social amelioration to affected households;
6. P20 Billion for assistance to households that have been severely impacted by recent typhoons;
7.
P30 Billion for assistance to displaced workers;
8.
P50 Billion for rehabilitation of typhoon-affected areas;
9.
P3 Billion for internet allowances for DepEd K to 12 teachers and students; and
10. P2 Billion for the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for internet allowances for tertiary level teachers and students.
Covered
Period of Bayanihan 3: Until June 2021
In
his explanatory note, Senator Recto noted that said bill is a counterpart
measure to House Bill No. 8031 filed by Representative Stella Quimbo of the 2nd
District of Marikina City.
“While this bill, in the
meantime, essentially adopts the provisions of the House Bill, this will be
subject to the collective wisdom of the members of the Senate,”
Recto added.