Robredo says ‘Bayanihan 2’ not enough pandemic response

SENSE OF URGENCY Vice President Leni Robredo addresses the nation on the government’s management of the pandemic. —SCREEN GRAB FROM OVP FACEBOOK PAGE

MANILA, Philippines — The Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, or “Bayanihan 2,” is not enough to deal with problems brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Monday afternoon.

Aside from that, Robredo also questioned in her latest public address why the government was still operating on a budget that did not seem to meet the pressing needs of a health crisis.

She admitted that only the government can save the country’s economy — which contracted by 16.5 percent in the second quarter of 2020 — from further spiraling down. However, it cannot be done simply with the passage of Bayanihan 2.

“No one else can save the economy but government[…] But the provisions and funds specified in Bayanihan 2 are not enough,” Robredo said in a recorded message streamed on her Facebook page.

Sense of urgency

“Government must spend more, spend efficiently, and spend quickly, with the utmost sense of urgency, as if our economic survival depends on it — because it does. And yet, here we are, still counting on a pre-COVID budget,” she said.

Robredo also said the government should not regard health and economic programs in the time of a pandemic to be opposing interests, as addressing health problems would lead to a better economy.

For Duterte’s signature

The House of Representatives on Monday ratified the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, or Bayanihan 2, four days after the Senate’s ratification.

In a voice vote, the 302-member chamber approved the final version of the measure that would pour P165.5 billion into various programs to stimulate the economy amid a pandemic-induced recession.

The measure will be transmitted to Malacañang for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature.

The Senate ratified Bayanihan 2 after a contentious bicameral conference. The House initially proposed P162 billion for the bill’s funding, while the Senate sought P140 billion.

Before the ratification, Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. defended the House contingent from insinuations that it tried to insert certain allocations for personal gain, including P10 billion for the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority.

The amount was later realigned to the Department of Tourism and the Department of Public Works and Highways after tourism sector leaders objected to the House version for not providing direct assistance to stakeholders.

“There are no personal interests here as our counterparts insinuate. If they think there are such provisions, they should have raised it during the bicam,” Villafuerte said.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing on Monday he believed the earliest that it can reach the desk of the President will be tomorrow.

—With a report from Julie M. Aurelio