With 242 affirmative votes, six negative, and no abstention, the House of Representatives approved on Monday on third and final reading House Bill No. 6953 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2).
The Bayanihan 2 will address the country’s tourism industry and economy which were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It will also allocate funds for COVID-19 testing and assistance for affected and displaced workers.
Meanwhile, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate expressed doubts on the objective of Bayanihan 2 to address the pandemic, the funds of which might be used for early campaigning for the 2022 elections.
Zarate said the executive must first have a comprehensive report on the utilization of funds under Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (Bayanihan 1) before Congress passes Bayanihan 2.
Zarate believes that the Executive must also report its spending of the 2020 national budget before the Bayanihan 2 budget is approved.
The Lower House version of Bayanihan 2 provides for a Php 162 billion-fund.
House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano denied the accusation and asserted that it is for public service.
“Kung sila ay nagagalit sa red-tagging, ‘di ba, I think it’s unfair na mag-election tagging sa lahat, kasi kahit ano namang programa ng gobyerno, pwede mong sabihin na pwedeng gamitin sa eleksyon (If they hate red-tagging, I think it is unfair to resort to election tagging because any government project can be supposedly used for election),” Cayetano responded.
“But that’s not the issue. The issue is whether or not, maganda iyong mga program na iyon (the projects are good),” he added.
Cayetano said they aim to start the bicameral conference committee this week. – Report from Daniel Manalastas
