CDO solon wants special session to approve economic stimulus package

MANILA, Philippines — Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has urged President Rodrigo Duterte to call Congress to a special session to approve the P1.3-trillion economic stimulus package approved by the House of Representatives.

In a statement on Wednesday, the lawmaker said the stimulus package aims to aid sectors that were “crippled” by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Affected sectors have to be assisted immediately so they could start to bounce back.

“If we wait until August or September after we convene for our second regular session in late July, we will have wasted precious time,” he said.

“Financial aid should be available as the economy begins to gain momentum with the easing of quarantine restrictions in many areas of the country,” Rodriguez added.

Before Congress went on break last June 6, the House was able to pass on final reading House Bill No. 6815 or the Accelerated Recovery and Investments Stimulus for the Economy of the Philippines (ARISE Philippines Act).

This provides for a P1.3 trillion economic stimulus package which includes a budget for massive testing.

Under the bill, resources are set aside “for programs and policies that support the country’s emergence from an economy adversely affected by COVID-19.”

The bill sets aside a P20 billion budget—P10 billion for 2020 and another P10 billion for 2021—for mass COVID-19 testing “in areas in the country where higher possibility of transmission of COVID-19 may occur or have occurred.”

Other interventions proposed in the bill are divided into four sectors: transitional, financial, sectoral, and structural.

A P66-billion fund will also be allocated for the agriculture and fishery sector, P75 billion for the transportation industry, P58 billion for tourism, P44 billion for industries and services, and P15 billion as financial aid to students.

Its counterpart bill in the Senate, the proposed Philippine Economic Stimulus Act, is yet to reach the plenary floor.

The 18th Congress is currently adjourned sine die which signals the end of the first regular session. It is expected to resume in July, the day President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his 5th State of the Nation Address.

The President can call lawmakers to a special session “at any time during a recess,” Rodriguez said.