House OKs on 2nd reading P162B Bayanihan 2

THE Bayanihan to Recover As One (Bayanihan 2) to support the government’s fight against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic and economic recovery has hurdled second reading at the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

The latest version of House Bill 6953 proposes a P162 billion stimulus package, higher than the P140 billion package provided in the Senate version approved on third and final reading on July 28.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Joey Salceda said the Bayanihan 2 is expected to extend some procurement and budgeting powers reflected in the first Bayanihan package, which expired last June 25.

“This is one of the many necessary steps in our long road to recovery, so we expect to deliberate on other economic measures in the coming weeks,” said Salceda, co-Chairman of the Economic Stimulus and Recovery Cluster of the Defeat Covid-19 Committee.

According to the latest version shared by Salceda, the Bayanihan 2 seeks to address health concerns by providing P10 billion for Covid-19 coverage under the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation; P10.5 billion for hiring of additional healthcare workers and arrangements for risk allowance, life insurance, compensation, and compensation for death and critical illness; P3 billion for the purchase of personal protective equipment for frontliners and indigents; and P4 billion for the construction of quarantine and isolation facilities.

The bill also provides P12 billion for the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) programs such as the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), emergency subsidies for areas on hard lockdown, sustainable livelihood programs, and supplemental feeding.

Like the first Bayanihan law, the measure also provides P5,000 to P8,000 subsidy to low-income families but only in areas under the enhanced community quarantine.

The bill also aims to support economic recovery by providing P20 billion for the implementation of the cash-for-work programs; P51 billion for the infusion of new capital for government financial institutions; P20 billion for low-interest credit for the agriculture sector; P10 billion for the transport sector; P10 billion for tourism development programs; and P100 million for training tourist guides.

For education, the bill allocates P3 billion for smart, information and communications technology-ready education facilities in state universities and colleges; P4 billion for the Department of Education’ digital and alternative modes of learning; P600 million for subsidies for qualified students in private tertiary education institutions; P300 million for subsidies for personnel of private tertiary education institutions and part-time personnel of state universities and colleges; and P1 billion for additional scholarship funds for Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

The measure also provides P1.5 billion for assistance for local government units, P820 million for the Department of Foreign Affairs’ programs for displaced migrant workers, and P180 million to finance athletes affected by the pandemic.

According to Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte, one of the principal authors of the bill, the Bayanihan 2 will be in effect until Dec. 31, 2020.

The bill will be presented for third and final reading.

Source: TheManila Times