Senate awaits Malacañang’s weekly report on distribution of crisis subsidy

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he expects Malacañang to report to Congress updates on the distribution of the emergency subsidy to the 18 million families across the country and mass testing efforts, especially in urban areas.

Under the recently enacted “Bayanihan To Heal as One Act,” the President is mandated to submit a weekly report—or every Monday—to Congress of all acts performed pursuant to said law.

“I expect to receive a report on 1) Ready for distribution of financial aid to the 18M families of the informal sector 2) mass testing especially in urban areas 3) prioritization of the safety and welfare of the frontline health workers,” Sotto told reporters in a Viber message on Monday.

Under the law, the President is granted “necessary and proper” powers to adopt several “temporary emergency measures” to deal with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic which has so far infected over 1,000 in the Philippines.

The law also mandates the creation of a joint congressional oversight committee composed of four members from each chamber of Congress.

Sotto said he assigned Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senators Pia Cayetano, Panfilo Lacson and Christopher “Bong” Go to be part of the joint congressional oversight committee.

EDV