Several bills seeking Bayanihan 2 extension filed in House
MANILA, Philippines — Several bills seeking to extend the effectivity of Bayanihan To Recover As One or Bayanihan 2 are currently pending in the House of Representatives.
The most recent is that of Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, who filed Wednesday House Bill No. 8173, which aims to extend the life of Bayanihan 2 until June 30, 2021.
Bayanihan 2 is set to expire on December 19 this year.
In filing the measure, Villafuerte said the extension would allow the government to continuously implement the recovery and stimulus programs specified in Bayanihan 2, particularly in allocating funds for more essential and relevant items to help the country recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
In November, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, public accounts committee chair Paolo Duterte, and appropriations committee chair Eric Yap also filed a measure extending Bayanihan 2.
The House leaders wanted Bayanihan 2 to be extended until March 27, 2021.
“By extending its validity, the President will be able to continuously sustain and further the capacity of the government in supporting the Filipino people to rise above the adversity brought about by the pandemic,” the House leaders said.
Other measures in the House seeking to extend Bayanihan 2 are as follows:
• House Bill No. 7957 filed by Bulacan Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado – extend until December 19, 2021
• House Bill No. 7979 filed by Parañaque City Rep. Joy Myra Tambunting – extend until June 5, 2021
• House Bill No. 8014 filed by several lawmakers – extend until January 31, 2021
• House Bill No. 8099 filed by AAMBIS-OWA Rep. Sharon Garin and Valenzuela City Rep. Weslie Gatchalian – seeks to extend only selected provisions of Bayanihan 2
Yap and Senate finance committee chair Sonny Angara earlier expressed plans to push for the extension of Bayanihan 2 to help cushion the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the recent typhoons that ravaged the country.
They are also eyeing the extension of the effectivity of the 2020 national budget.
On Wednesday, the House approved on second reading a bill seeking to extend the availability of the 2020 national budget until December 31, 2021.
The 2020 budget is set to expire on December 31 this year. [ac]
