Solon wants special ‘online’ session of Congress to tackle COVID-19

ITCHING FOR WORK Several lawmakers have urged President Duterte to convene a special session of Congress to help in the fight against coronavirus. —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Perhaps shamed by the thought of going on vacation during a national health crisis, some congressmen urged President Rodrigo Duterte to call a special session so Congress can work on measures to help in the fight against the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said Congress, which went on recess on March 11, could not afford to wait until the resumption of its session on May 4 because of the need for urgent measures.

“If we wait for May 4 to consider these measures, it might be too late to help the affected sectors,” he said. “I am suggesting that the House and the Senate meet in a special session through video-teleconferencing and other technological means.”

“The prudent thing to do is to stay home and work from home to avoid getting infected by this virus. This is much like telecommuting or working from home via computer technologies,” he said, adding that online sessions will not violate the community quarantine in Metro Manila.

He said Congress should also tackle proposed stimulus packages for workers affected by the community quarantine in Metro Manila and other local government units, and for small businesses suffering from dwindling number of patrons.

Unapproved budget

Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. agreed that a special session of Congress was in order for urgent measures that would equip the government in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Camarines Sur lawmaker said the first order of business should be the approval of the P1.65-billion supplemental fund for the Department of Health (DOH) to procure badly needed personal protective equipment for health workers and other supplies, including test kits for COVID-19.

The House appropriations panel last week approved the proposed P1.65-billion fund for the DOH, but the chamber did not have enough time to discuss the measure in plenary session.“In this time of crisis, I am confident that the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate are ready to hold a special session, if and when President Duterte calls for one,” Villafuerte said.

Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman also sought to approve extraordinary steps that would bring economic and other relief to the Filipino people, including an indefinite suspension of the deadline for the filing of income tax returns.

“This pandemic is affecting our way of life and the attitude should not be ‘business as usual’ for the (Bureau of Internal Revenue),” the Basilan lawmaker said. “While people are thinking of ways to keep their families safe, why add to their worries in these trying times? Let us be compassionate toward the circumstances of the people.”

“I suggest that the BIR open discussions for setting the tax filing deadline after April 14 to give the people enough breathing space to set their affairs in order,” he said.

More ideas to help

“At the minimum, there should be a moratorium on electricity and water bill collections or better yet there should be a one-month subsidy for these utilities,” said Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, leader of the opposition Makabayan bloc said.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the Government Service Insurance System and the Social Security System could also extend three-month interest-free emergency salary loans to workers who had been temporarily laid off or placed on staggered work schedule due to COVID-19.

Rep. Jericho Nograles of the PBA party list asked the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to direct all banks to relax or suspend loan and mortgage repayments to avoid loan defaults.

“With the economic slowdown due to COVID-19 measures, banks and lending institutions should avoid loan defaults by relaxing loan repayments. If they will default borrowers, then the banks are taking unjust advantage over our citizens,” Nograles said.

Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera called on mall owners and landowners to give a “compassionate discount” to tenants, especially small retailers, because “Filipinos are now avoiding going to crowded places like shopping malls to protect themselves from the virus.”

Rep. Niña Taduran of the anticrime ACT-CIS party-list proposed a moratorium on the repayment of debts, taxes, fees and utility bills of affected consumers that are due within the month-long Metro Manila-wide quarantine.

“We must consider that even though people may have money, they might be apprehensive about going out to take care of these payments. Also, they might need their money for more essential items at this time,” she said.