House panels OK substitute bill for Bayanihan 3

The House Committee on Economic Affairs and Committee on Social Services on Monday approved the still unnumbered substitute bill and the committee report on the proposed third Bayanihan law.

In the joint meeting, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said at least 290 members of the chamber are principal authors and co-authors of the proposed Bayanihan to Arise as One Act.

Velasco, one of the key proponents of the measure, appealed to the Senate and the Executive department to support them in pushing for the bill.

"I urge our partners in the Senate and the Executive to fully partner with us in this mission. We need your help," he said.

AAMBIS-Owa party-list Representative Sharon Garin, who chairs the Committee on Economics Affairs, said Section 29 of the measure states the proposed amendment on the sources of funding for the programs of the proposed Bayanihan 3 such as the 2021 General Appropriations Act:

"Provided, that funds for the herein authorized programs, activities, and projects shall be sourced primarily from the unprogrammed funds and savings realized from modified, realigned or reprogrammed allocations for operational expense of any government agency or instrumentality under the Executive department, including, but not limited to, traveling expenses, supplies and materials, expenses, professional services, general services, advertising expenses, printing and publication expenses, and other maintenance and operating expenses in 2021 GAA: Provided further, that to fasttrack economic recovery and pump prime the economy, implementation ready programs, activities, and projects, including programs, activities, and projects that have not yet undergone the procurement process, whether for comprehensive release or for later release, shall not be discontinued and appropriations for such programs, activities, and projects shall be immediately released."

It also states that "programs, activities, and projects that have the highest multiplier effect and that promote countryside development, including infrastructure projects, shall be prioritized in the release of appropriation."

Last week, the House Committee on Appropriations approved the measure, which outlines a range of interventions worth P405.6 billion to help the country recover from the COVID-19 pandemic in three phases.

"What we are really pushing for is P167 billion. Now, if the government has more funds, then there are other things we are suggesting in this bill, which is Phase 2 and Phase 3. So we’d like to focus on P167 billion, which is the first phase," Garin said.

This bill seeks to give two rounds of assistance, worth at least P1,000 to all Filipinos, regardless of their status in life. A total of P216 billion was allotted for this distribution of cash aid.

It also aims to provide assistance to households affected by the pandemic through a one-time cash subsidy program of P5,000 to P10,000, which will be implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The proposed Bayanihan 3 is among the priorities of the lower chamber before it adjourns sine die on June 5.

In a separate virtual presser, Garin said debates in the plenary would push through in the coming days. She also said they are hoping that the bill would be certified urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte.

"We do think that it should be passed as soon as possible. Hopefully he does," Garin said. "Hopefully we can get traction kahit break kami."

"The Senate is also very interested in this based on the report in the news, kahit 'yung mga proclamation ni Senator [Franklin] Drilon, sila Manny Pacquiao, they're also... ang problema lang magbe-break," she added.  —KBK, GMA News