MANILA, Philippines — The proposed “We Recover as One” Law or the Bayanihan 2 will be certified as urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte, Malacañang announced Thursday.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, the certification of the Bayanihan 2 as urgent will be crucial in the country’s recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Kampante tayo sa isang V-shaped recovery dahil napakalakas nga po ng ating ekonomiya, kakayanin po natin ito. Pagdating naman po doon sa sasabihin ni Presidente (sa SONA), siguro hintayin nalang natin talagang hindi ko po pangungunahan ang Presidente pero naririyan din po ang Bayanihan 2 na sigurado ako ice-certify as urgent,” Roque said in a televised press briefing.
“’Yung Bayanihan 2 naman po ay isa yan sa malakas na sandata natin na gagamitin natin para tayo naman po ay makabangon dito sa aberya ng COVID,” he added.
The Bayanihan 2 Act is the second version of the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act or Republic Act 11469 which granted Duterte additional powers to reallocate portions of the 2019 and 2020 funds in the national government’s pandemic response.
The Bayanihan 1 lapsed on June 24.
The Bayanihan 2 Act was supposed to be passed by Congress last month but it failed to hurdle the third reading in the Senate before it adjourned.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III earlier expressed confidence that the Bayanihan 2 Act will be passed after the Duterte’s 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 27.