Romualdez asks Senate: Take a ‘second look’ at Bayanihan 3

FILE House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez

MANILA, Philippines — House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez on Monday asked the Senate to take a “second look” at the proposed Bayanihan to Arise As One bill or Bayanihan 3.

Romualdez said the proposed Bayanihan 3 is “very important” in addressing the needs of Filipinos amid the pandemic.

“Bayanihan 3 was passed in the lower house almost unanimously. Perhaps the Senate could give it a second look for we feel it would be very important—not only in extension of Bayanihan 1 and 2,” Romualdez said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.

“We feel that the ayuda programs that this Bayanihan 3 seeks to address [are important],” he added.

The House of Representatives has already passed Bayanihan 3 before its sine die adjournment on June 5. The Senate, however, was not able to approve its version of the measure before the break.

President Rodrigo Duterte met with leading members of the Senate and the House on June 24 to discuss Bayanihan 3 as well as the extension of validity of the Bayanihan to Recover As One or Bayanihan 2.

Meanwhile, while Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez supports more financial aid to vulnerable sectors amid the prolonged pandemic, he maintains that additional spending should be within the government’s means and not further bloat the budget deficit.

EDV