Rufus Rodriguez wants Duterte's special authority to address COVID-19 crisis extended until September

Cagayan De Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez is proposing that Congress extend the special authority given to President Rodrigo Duterte to address the COVID-19 crisis for three months, or until September this year.

In a bill he drafted to be filed on Tuesday, Rodriguez said the special authority given to the President under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act is only valid for three months from the time of its enactment.

The Bayanihan Act was passed by Congress in a marathon session that lasted until the early morning of March 24. The President signed the bill into law on the same day.

However, two months into the law's effectivity, many COVID-19 cases are still being reported daily and the country has yet to fully recover from the crisis, Rodriguez pointed out.

“It is therefore clear that the pandemic will not be over by June 24, 2020. As such, we need to extend the effectivity of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and give the President additional time to address the pandemic,” he said.

“Since there is a similar proposal in the Senate, I am urging the leaders of the two chambers of Congress to consider approving the proposed extension before we go on our annual mandatory adjournment next weekend,” he added.

Rodriguez said that if Congress fails to pass the bill he is proposing before Saturday next week, then the President will have to call for a special session during the congressional recess if he wants his special authority under the Bayanihan Law extended.

The Bayanihan Act gave Duterte special authority to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, such as the provision of emergency cash subsidy to around 18 million low-income households in the country for two months amounting to P5,000 to P8,000, and the power to realign items from the national budget to fund COVID-19 response measures.

The law states that upon its enactment, it would take into effect in full force but only for three months, unless extended by Congress.

The powers granted to Duterte under the measure may likewise be withdrawn sooner through a concurrent resolution of Congress or ended by Presidential proclamation.

As of May 24, a total of 14,035 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the Philippines, with 868 deaths and 3,249 recoveries. —KG, GMA News