Bayanihan 3 a must under ECQ: Speaker

MANILA – Speaker Lord Allan Velasco on Friday called on the Senate to immediately pass the proposed Bayanihan to Arise As One Act (Bayanihan 3) as the government is set to reimpose stricter quarantine measures in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Velasco made the call after President Rodrigo Duterte approved the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases’ (IATF-EID) recommendation to place Metro Manila under the most restrictive enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) on August 6 to 20.

The leader of the House of Representatives said economic managers must find funding sources for the third round of the stimulus package that will help struggling families amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

“The imposition of ECQ in Metro Manila due to the threat of the Delta variant brings to light the urgency of Bayanihan 3, and we appeal to our counterparts in the Senate to pass this measure and to our economic managers to secure funding for this bill,” Velasco said.

The bill provides for the distribution of emergency cash subsidies for households in areas under ECQ, with around PHP30 billion allocated for the cash grant.

Bayanihan 1 (Bayanihan to Heal as Once Act) and Bayanihan 2 (Bayanihan to Recover as One Act) previously provided financial assistance under the Social Amelioration Program.

“We understand that the Executive Department is doing all it can to mitigate the spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19. We urge everyone to observe health standards and to be extra vigilant so that our health care system will not be overwhelmed,” he said.

In an announcement aired over state-run PTV-4, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said NCR will stay under general community quarantine with heightened restrictions until August 5.

“Hindi po naging madali ang desisyon na ito. Maraming oras ang ginugol para pagdebatehan ang bagay na ito (It is not an easy decision. We spent so much time debating on the proposal [to place Metro Manila under ECQ]),” Roque said.