Bayanihan 2 will retain agrarian reform benefits, no PUV phase-out — Angara

A farmer in Pangasinan province prepares for rice planting. PHOTO BY WILLIE LOMIBAO

MANILA, Philippines — Agrarian reform benefits, no phase-out of public utility vehicles and extension of waiver of permits are among the provisions of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2 that will continue beyond the expiration of the law, Senator Sonny Angara said on Thursday.

Specific provisions under Bayanihan 2, will still be in effect while the state of national emergency declared by President Rodrigo Duterte remains in place, according to Angara, chairman of the Senate finance committee.

The law extending the availability of Bayanihan 2 funds expired on June 30 along with “most of the funds appropriated for various purposes.”

In a statement, Angara said the specific provisions include financial relief to agrarian reform beneficiaries, the lifting of the 30-percent cap on the quick response fund, and prohibition on private educational institutions grantees from retrenching their employees within nine months from receipt of grant.

The senator added that “there will be no phase-out of any modality of public utility vehicles while the transport industry is transitioning to a new normal.”

For flagship infrastructure projects, the waiver on all permits and licenses, including local government permits, licenses, clearances and registration requirements, will continue until mid-September this year, Angara also noted.

In the case of “nationally significant” private projects seen to have high economic returns or high employment potential, Angara said they can enjoy the waiver on permits, licenses, certificates, clearances, consents, authorizations or resolutions by national government agencies, except those relating to taxes, duties, border control and environmental laws and regulations during the state of national emergency and the economic rehabilitation period or until the last day of June 2022, whichever is later.

In the healthcare sector, Angara reiterated that benefits granted to medical frontliners under Bayanihan 2 will continue to be provided even after the law expires.

Bayanihan 2 earlier lapsed with P18.4 billion in allocations remaining unspent, leaving a number of critical pandemic response programs unfunded.

The House of Representatives recently approved the final reading of the proposed third Bayanihan measure. — Faith Yuen Wei Ragasa, Inquirer trainee

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