Bayanihan 3 ready to be tackled on House plenary floor

Plenary Hall of the House of Representatives. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The proposed third Bayanihan measure that seeks to cushion the impact of the coronavirus pandemic is ready to be tackled on the plenary floor of the House of Representatives.

This came after the House committee on appropriations approved the measure Friday. The proposed Bayanihan to Arise as One Act, also known as Bayanihan 3, has previously been approved by the House committee on economic affairs and the committee on ways and means.

The P405.6 billion Bayanihan 3 includes the provision of P2,000 cash aid per Filipino, regardless of social status. This cash aid will be given in two tranches, amounting to P1,000 per tranche.

Bayanihan 3 likewise seeks to provide wage subsidies,  assistance to displaced workers, housing relief, assistance to the agri-fishery sector, medical assistance, and support to basic education, among others.

House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, one of the principal authors of the measure, expressed hopes that the lower chamber will be able to approve Bayanihan 3 before the sine die adjournment on June 4.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to finish it within those three weeks bago tayo mag sine die (before the sine die adjournment) and also actually it really depends on the finance department on whether they will be able to find the said needed funds,” Velasco said in an interview.

According to Velasco, House leaders are having regular meetings with the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to ensure the funding for Bayanihan 3.

/MUF