President Rodrigo Duterte on September 11 signed into law the P165.5-billion Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, also known as Bayanihan 2.
The law, which aims to fast-track Philippine recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic fallout, provides for a P165.5 billion subsidy that consists of P140 billion in regular appropriations and P25.5 billion in standby funding. It was ratified by the Senate on August 20 and by the House of Representatives on August 24.
Bayanihan 2 effectively extends the validity of the government’s COVID-19 programs and interventions under Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. The Bayanihan Act lapsed last June 5.
The P140 billion regular appropriations are broken down as follows:
- 5 billion is allocated for assistance to the transportation industry
- P3 billion for procurement of face masks, PPEs, shoe covers, and face shields
- 5 billion for construction of temporary medical isolation and quarantine facilities, field hospitals, dormitories, and expansion of government hospital capacity
- 5 billion for Office of Civil Defense or National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council isolation facilities and other requirements including billing of hotels, food and transportation used by COVID-19 patients
- 5 billion for the Department of Health to employ emergency human resources for health
- P820 million as fund for Overseas Filipinos under the Department of Foreign Affairs
- P13 billion for the government’s cash-for-work program and other support programs for impacted sectors
- P600 million as subsidies and allowances for students severely impacted by the pandemic
- P300 million as subsidies and allowances for teaching and non-teaching personnel, and part-time faculty in state universities and colleges
- P180 million as allowance for our national athletes and coaches
- 472 billion as capital infusion to government banks
- P24 billion to assist the agricultural sector and the Plant, Plant, Plant initiative under the Department of Agriculture
- P4 billion for the tourism industry and another P100 million for tourist guides’ training and subsidies
- P3 billion to develop smart campuses across the country
- P1 billion for Technical Education and Skills Development Authority scholarships
- P6 billion for Department of Social Welfare and Development’s assistance to individuals in crisis situations
- P4 billion for the Department of Education’s implementation of digital education
- 5 billion as assistance to local government units (LGUs), with another P2 billion as subsidy for the payment of interest on loans secured by LGUs from government banks
- P5 billion for the Department of the Interior and Local Government to hire more contact tracers
- 5 million for the computer-based licensure of the Philippine Red Cross
- P10 million for the research fund of the Health Technology Assessment Council, which was created under the Universal Health Care Law
- P15 million for University of the Philippines-Diliman’s Computational Research Lab
As for the standby fund of P25.5 billion, P10 billion will be for COVID-19 testing and procurement of medication and vaccines, and P15.5 billion will be additional capital infusion to government banks.
The law instructs the Department of Trade and Industry to accelerate and promote online commerce and digitalization of MSMEs.
It also again orders that deadlines and timelines for the filing and submission of documents, payment of taxes, fees, and other charges be moved to ease the burden on individuals under community quarantine.
Exemption from import duties for personal protective equipment will be determined by the Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue, provided that local preference is ensured.
