The Senate has ratified on Thursday the reconciled version in the bicameral panel of Php 140 billion fund for the Bayanihan to Recover as One (Bayanihan 2) with Php 25 billion standby fund.
“Ang nangyari, we had to reconcile the 2 and dumami ang bagong items (We had to reconcile the 2 and more new items came up). There are a lot of new items in the reconciled bicam version which will become the law eventually,” Senate Finance Committee Chair Sonny Angara said.
The health sector has the greatest fund allocation in the new assistance program created by the legislators under Bayanihan 2.
Angara disclosed that the fund allocation for contact tracing, isolation facilities, and vaccines amounting to Php 10 billion were among the considerations in the proposed law.
The Bayanihan 2 budget breakdown of Php 140 billion include:
• SAP- Emergency subsidy of Php 5,000 to Php 8,000 for affected low-income households in areas under (ECQ/Hard Lockdown) and to households with recently-returned OFWs
• Isolation and quarantine facilities, field hospitals, dormitories for frontliners – Php 4.5B • Contact tracing – Php 5B
• Additional funds for education – Php 8.9B
• PPE Procurement – Php 3B
• Assistance for Displaced Workers – Php 13B
• Transportation – Php 9.5B
• Vaccines – Php 10B standby funds including COVID-19 testing
House Speaker Alan Cayetano stated they also approved the Php 10,000 “risk allowance” for private health workers.
“No amount of money could repay the blood, sweat, and tears shed by our health workers but taking care of those extra things for them can go a long way. And it will allow them to focus more on taking care of our kababayans,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Malacañang welcomed the recent development which would accelerate the distribution of aid.
“Nagagalak po kami na napakabilis po ng pagpasa ng Bayanihan 2… I think they were faithful naman po sa request ng Palasyo. Hindi po tumaas ng masyado (We are pleased with the speedy passage of Bayanihan 2. I think they were faithful to the request of the Palace. It did not increase that much),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque enthused.
The proposed law will become effective until December once signed by President Duterte.
– Report from Eunice Samonte
