Sotto: Senate expects actions on financial aid to 18M families, mass testing in Duterte’s first report to Congress

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday said he has three important expectations on President Rodrigo Duterte's pilot report regarding the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response he has taken using the additional powers granted by Congress.

In a message to reporters, Sotto said he expects the report to include actions on the distribution of financial aid to the 18 million families in the informal sector; mass testing, especially in urban areas; and prioritization of the safety and welfare of frontline health workers.

Sotto said he has yet to receive an update from Malacañang regarding the submission of Duterte's first report.

Senators Pia Cayetano, Panfilo Lacson, Bong Go, and Franklin Drilon were assigned to be part of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee which shall review Duterte's weekly reports.

Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte also said during the Laging Handa briefing on Monday that the House of Representatives has yet to receive the report from Duterte on acts performed pursuant to the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.

"So far, wala pa. We're waiting for it. I'm sure they will submit today, Monday. But we're waiting for it," he said.

"As soon as we get a copy, Congress will review and I'm sure the media will get a copy," he added.

Signed into law last week, the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act grants additional powers to Duterte to address the COVID-19 threats with flexibility, including the authority to realign available budget.

Section 5 of the said measure states that: "The President, during Monday of every week, shall submit a weekly report to Congress of all acts performed pursuant to this Act during the immediately preceding week."

The weekly report shall include the amount and corresponding utilization of the funds that were used, augmented, reprogrammed, reallocated, and realigned for COVID-19 response. —With a report from Erwin Colcol/RSJ/KG, GMA News