ADVERTISEMENT
News
Validity of Bayanihan law may be extended to facilitate cash aid in GCQ areas, says Sotto
By DONA MAGSINO, GMA News The Senate may extend the validity of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (RA 11469) to help the executive branch, should it push through with the plan to give a second tranche of the emergency cash assistance even in areas under the general community quarantine, according to Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Friday.
"We will help in any way although as far as power to realign funds, [it] was already incorporated in RA 11469. Perhaps what we would need to do is extend the validity of the law," Sotto said in a message.
He, however, said that he doesn't have an idea yet on how long the extension of the law would be.
Sotto made the proposal after Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced that Duterte has ordered Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado to find a funding source for a possible cash aid to qualified beneficiaries in areas under GCQ
ADVERTISEMENT
The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act was passed by Congress in a marathon session last March 23 to give President Rodrigo Duterte the authority to realign the national budget for COVID-19 response. It was given an initial effectivity of three months.
Among the measure's salient points was the provision of a P5,000 to P8,000 cash subsidy to 18 million low-income families nationwide for two months.
However, the government has previously said the second tranche of the cash assistance will be dedicated only to families under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).—AOL, GMA News