MANILA – The bicameral conference committee approved the reconciled version of the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or the Bayanihan 2 bill that allows President Rodrigo Duterte to realign funds for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis in the country.
Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said Thursday the two chambers of Congress agreed on the ratified version of Bayanihan 2 after settling the contentious P10-billion tourism sector assistance.
“The total is still P140 billion with allotments for various government programs to help our affected countrymen and sectors and an additional P25 billion standby appropriations,” Angara said.
“Both houses have settled the provision for the P10-billion assistance to the tourism sector,” he added. “The help for the tourism industry and stakeholders is intact and preserved.”
On the P10 billion tourism assistance, P6 billion is to be allotted for tourism micro small and medium enterprises, P3 billion for displaced tourism workers and P1 billon for tourism infra under Department of Public Works and Highways.
“Some of the aid to the tourism industry will go to the Labor Department for distribution to affected tourism workers; to the Small Business Corporation under the Department of Trade and Industry for assistance to tourism stakeholders; and to infrastructure programs,” Angara said.
Senator Imee Marcos, for her part, said that around P6 billion from Bayanihan 2 will go to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.
P10 billion has been allocated as “standby fund” for COVID-19 testing, COVID-19 medication, and vaccine, added the senator.
Meanwhile, Malacañang lauded the swift passage of the Bayanihan 2, which the government will use to revive the economy hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Nagagalak po ako na mabilis ang pagkasundo nila. I think they were faithful to the request of Malacañang,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said./PN