Palace calling for special session of Congress on Bayanihan 2 — Roque
MANILA, Philippines — The Executive branch will call for a special session of Congress for the passage of the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act or Bayanihan 2, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed on Thursday.
“Ang mabuting balita naman po, noong huling ulat ni Presidente sa taumbayan, nandoon po si (Finance) Secretary Dominguez at sinabi po niya sa akin na, halos nagkasundo na o halos plantsado na yung Bayanihan 2 at magpapatawag na nga po ng special session,” Roque said in an interview over Teleradyo.
(The good news is, during the last report of the President to the nation, Secretary Dominguez was there and he told me that they are nearing an agreement, Bayanihan 2 is almost ironed out and we will call for a special session.)
“Opo, yan po ang sabi sa akin ni Secretary Dominguez. For the first time po, kinonfirm nya na magpapatawag ng special session,” he added.
(That’s what Secretary Dominguez told me. For the first time, he confirmed that a special session will be called.)
Congress adjourned last month without passing the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act, the bill extending the Bayanihan to Heal as Once Act which granted the President additional powers to address the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The first Bayanihan law lapsed on June 25.
Still citing Dominguez, Roque said there was already an agreement between the executive and Congress on the stimulus package under Bayanihan 2.
“I always ask whether there will be a special session and no one could tell me since they were still negotiating on the provisions of the stimulus package but for the first time, it was clear, [a special session] will be called,” Roque said in Filipino.
Roque earlier said Malacañang prefers a stimulus package that the country can afford and does not require “too much borrowing.”
