LOOK: Bill granting Duterte special authority to deal wth COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — The two chambers of Congress late Thursday night passed separate bills giving President Rodrigo Duterte additional powers to adopt “temporary emergency measures” to respond to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Once enacted into law, the authorized powers given to the President under Senate Bill No. 1418 will only be effective for three months unless extended by Congress.

Additional provisions to the bill include the granting of emergency subsidy to around 18 million low-income households in the country; a “COVID-19 special risk allowance” and compensation to public health workers, among others.

Senate Bill No. 1418 or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act” seeks to declare a national emergency and authorize Duterte “for a limited period and subject to restrictions, to exercise powers necessary and proper to carry out the declared national policy.”

The bill, which was deliberated on by the Senate in a special session on Monday until early Tuesday, was adopted by the House of Representatives.

This means that a bicameral conference committee to reconcile the different versions from the two chambers of Congress would no longer be needed.

Below is the copy of the 15-page bill which is not up for the President’s signature:

EDV