Over 220 solons backing Bayanihan 3 bill — Speaker Velasco

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — More than 220 lawmakers in the House of Representatives are in support of the proposed third Bayanihan measure that seeks to cushion the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said Tuesday.

Velasco said 224 members from the House supermajority, minority and independent blocs have joined him either as principal authors or co-authors of House Bill No. 8628 or the Bayanihan to Arise As One Act, also known as Bayanihan 3.

“I want to thank my colleagues for rising above party-lines and for always keeping Filipinos first as we unite to provide much-needed help to households and businesses facing hardship as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Velasco said in a statement.

Bayanihan 3 seeks to provide P420-billion fund to help the country recover amid the economic crash triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The breakdown of the proposed P420-billion appropriation under Bayanihan 3:

• P52 billion for subsidies to small business for wages and other worker-related expenses;
• P100 billion for the capacity-building of businesses in critically impacted sectors;
• P108 billion for additional social amelioration to impacted households through programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development;
• P70 billion for the provision of assistance and capacity-building to farmers, livestock producers and fishermen;
• P30 billion for the implementation of unemployment assistance and cash-for-work programs under the Department of Labor and Employment;
• P30 billion for internet allowances to primary, secondary and tertiary students and teachers in public and private educational institutions;
• P5 billion to the Department of Public Works and Highways for the rehabilitation of typhoon-affected areas, including the repair, reconstruction and/or construction of flood control works, roads, bridges, public buildings and other damaged public works, to be distributed proportionately among affected provinces and cities;
• P25 billion to the Department of Health for the procurement of COVID-19 medication and vaccines, and to finance logistics, information awareness campaigns, and other related operational expenses

With regard to the P108-billion appropriation for additional social amelioration, the measure seeks to provide each household member P1,000 regardless of their economic status.

On top of this, a P1,000 allowance will be provided to each student and teacher, and P8,000 for every displaced worker.

“The 18th Congress, in its remaining legislative calendar, will carry out its duty to craft laws that will help our countrymen recover from this pandemic,” the House chief said.

“We deemed it necessary to address all fronts in stimulating our economy back to health, and the Bayanihan 3 provides a holistic approach in addressing all our current woes,” he added.

Bayanihan 3 is currently pending in the House committee on economic affairs.

JPV