Emergency powers bill allows Duterte to take over businesses

President Rodrigo Duterte will be allowed to take over hotels and other privately-owned public utilities and businesses if Congress grants him emergency powers to address the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation in the country.

Based on the still-unnumbered Senate bill, which Duterte himself certified as urgent, the President is authorized to "exercise powers necessary and proper" to implement a unified national policy to combat COVID-19 "for a limited period and subject to restrictions."

These include the power to "temporarily take over or direct the operation of any privately-owned public utility or business affected with public interest to be used in addressing the needs of the public during the COVID-19 emergency as determined by the President."

Among these entities are:

• hotels and other similar establishments to house health workers and serve as quarantine areas;
• public transportation systems to carry health, emergency and frontline personnel and other persons; and
• telecommunication entities to facilitate continuous communication between the government and public.

The bill also allows Duterte to undertake, as needed, the speedy procurement of the following:

• goods including personal protective equipment, medicine, and other medical supplies;
• lease of property or venue to house health workers and serve as quarantine centers;
• establishment, construction and operation of temporary medical facilities; and
• utilities, telecommunications, and other critical services relevant to the operation of quarantine centers, medical relief and aid distribution centers and temporary medical facilities.

Likewise, the measure grants Duterte the authority to regulate traffic and limit the operation of land, sea, air, and rail transportation, both public and private.

It also allows the President to "reprogram, reallocate, and realign any appropriation" in the 2020 national budget "for whatever purpose the President may deem necessary" to combat the spread of COVID-19, and cancel appropriated programs, projects and activities to generate savings.

House Committee on Ways and Means chair Joey Salceda expressed support to the granting of emergency powers to Duterte, given its necessity amid the extraordinary situation in the country at present.

“It’s absolutely necessary at this point. That’s why I asked Congressional leaders to call for a virtual session of Congress last week. The country needs it,” Salceda said.

“I will especially support provisions to exempt the purchase of necessary medical supplies and other essential goods from the procurement law, as well as support for our frontliners. Subsistence allowances will also be given to poor families affected by the enhanced quarantine through these powers. I already proposed that a few days ago, so I am thankful that the government is adopting the approach," he added.

The Senate and the House of Representatives will hold a special session, which Duterte himself called, on Monday at 10 a.m. to take up measures to address the COVID-19 threat. —Erwin Colcol/LBG, GMA News