Bayanihan Act special session depends on when law took effect –Palace

A special session of Congress to extend the validity of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act would depend on when the law took effect, Malacañang said on Saturday.

“If within three months, no need,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said

On Friday, Anak Kalusugan party-list Representative Michael Defensor said the Bayanihan law—which allowed President Rodrigo Duterte to realign P275 billion from the national budget to address COVID-19—would expire once Congress adjourns sine die on June 5 in accordance with the constitutional provisions on emergency powers.

“The remedy is for President Duterte to call Congress to a special session during the mandatory adjournment from June 6 to July 24,” Defensor said in a statement.

Section 9 of the Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan Act, states that the law shall be in full force and effect for three months, unless extended by Congress: Provided, that the powers granted under this Act may be withdrawn sooner by means of a concurrent resolution of Congress or ended by Presidential Proclamation.”

The measure, which granted emergency powers to address the COVID-19 crisis, was signed on March 24. It took effect immediately upon its publication in a newspaper of general circulation or in the Official Gazette on March 25.

Counting from the date of its publication to the end of its three-month effectivity, the Bayanihan law will expire on June 25.

Meanwhile, Ako Bicol party-list representative Alfredo Garbin Jr. agreed that the emergency power “shall automatically cease” upon the next adjournment of Congress, citing Article 6, Section 23 of the 1987 Charter.

It was Senator Panfilo Lacson who earlier called for the extension of Bayanihan law which also provides for a moratorium on payment of utility, loans, rent, among others, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quarantine rules have since been eased since May 16 to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) and general community quarantine (GCQ) where 50 to 75% of the workforce per company are allowed to physically report back to work, but mass transport remains prohibited in MECQ areas.

Areas under MECQ include: the highly urbanized cities of the National Capital Region and municipality of Pateros; Bataan; Bulacan; Nueva Ecija; Pampanga including Angeles City; Zambales and Laguna. — DVM, GMA News