Sotto says Bayanihan 3 is no longer necessary

Senate President Vicente Sotto III presides over the hybrid Committee of the Whole hearing on the national COVID-19 vaccination program, Monday, January 11, 2021. Senate PRIB file photo / Henzberg Austria

MANILA, Philippines — There is no longer a necessity for a third Bayanihan law, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said, citing the extension of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act.

Currently, the Senate is “not discussing” the passage of a “Bayanihan 3,” Sotto said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday.

“We’re not discussing it because we extended Bayanihan 2 [Bayanihan to Recover as One Act],” he said.

“Because we extended Bayanihan 2, I don’t think there is a necessity for Bayanihan 3,” he added.

Congress earlier extended the availability of appropriations under the Bayanihan 2 until the end of June 2021. The said law was initially supposed to lapse last December.

“Bayanihan 2 is still in progress and I think they’re [the executive department] doing well, They’re doing fine, I can’t say it’s bad,” Sotto said of the law’s implementation.

In the Senate, there are at least two bills seeking a third Bayanihan law.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto filed Senate Bill No. 1953 or the proposed Bayanihan to Rebuild as One Act “as a continuing response to soften the impact of an economic downturn, accelerate the economic recovery of the country and respond to the urgent needs of areas battered by the recent typhoons.”

Under the bill, the P485-billion allocation will be  used to fund several COVID-19 recovery efforts.

The other bill was filed by Senator Christopher “Bong” Go.

JPV