MANILA, Philippines — Another “Bayanihan” law may have to be enacted to sustain government efforts to address the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) contagion and its impact on livelihood, presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said yesterday.
With the Bayanihan Act having expired along with the emergency powers of President Duterte, Roque said the Chief Executive would likely call for a meeting to determine if there is need for a special session of Congress to enact a new measure such as a stimulus package.
“The President will call for a special session once a consensus is reached over how much a stimulus package should be,” Roque said in Filipino.
He said the administration was doing a “good job” in dealing with the health crisis, as there are now fewer deaths reported compared to other countries in Southeast Asia.
“We’re third in ASEAN, but I think worldwide, we have done a very good job, especially in limiting mortality,” he said.
Due to the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which expired yesterday, Roque said Duterte was able to maximize the use of government resources in the fight against COVID-19.
“Because of the special powers given to the President, we had no deficiency in medical supplies which we need in facing COVID-19 because we already acquired it. We were unhindered by stringent procurement rules,” he said.
Roque added that the government was also able to provide assistance to about 12 million to 18 million beneficiaries through a social amelioration program.
“And as far as giving assistance to the public is concerned, there are about 12 million beneficiaries; with additional five million. So we benefitted 17 million on assistance alone,” he said.
He cited other forms of assistance including salary subsidy scheme under the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Agriculture and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. “I think we’ve done a fairly good job,” Roque said.
Asked how the Bayanihan Act has exactly helped the government, Roque said it has sped up the procurement process for essential medical equipment.
“What is important is we were given leeway to buy what we need, unrestricted by the Government Procurement Act and most importantly the powers of the executive to realign funds within the same executive branch of government without the normal customary restrictions provided by the Constitution,” Roque said.
“We complied with constitutional requirements because it is only realignment within the same department but without the usual restrictions of COA rules,” he added, referring to the Commission on Audit.
Secretary Vince Dizon, who has been tasked to oversee the government’s testing capacity, said the Bayanihan Act enabled authorities to provide the much-needed critical response to COVID-19.
“I think all the hard decisions the President made way back in February and the execution of interventions in the past few months should prove that we have been effective,” Dizon said in Filipino. “The government, with the help of the private sector, and lawmakers have responded effectively in the fight against COVID-19.”
‘Very decisive’
Former president and speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also lauded the Duterte administration for its response to the COVID-19 crisis.
In a virtual forum with the House economic affairs committee, Arroyo cited the “very decisive” actions taken by Duterte in addressing the global health crisis.
“I have nothing but the highest respect for all of those in government who are now battling in the arena, from President Duterte to Sec. (Carlito) Galvez (Jr.), Sec. (Francisco) Duque (III) and to each and every frontliner who have given their lives in this fight,” the former leader commented.
“We’ve seen President Duterte in this crisis as very decisive, so if there is a resurgence we are confident that he will act just as decisively to take remedial measures,” she pointed out.
Arroyo also cited the current administration for taking “strong, swift action when needed.”
“I have been in the arena, so I think I have earned the right to say that an ounce of their effort is worth more than the ton of criticism they receive,” stressed Arroyo, whose administration had dealt with three pandemics – SARS crisis in 2003, bird flu outbreak in 2006 and swine flu in 2009.
At the same forum, Arroyo suggested to Duterte that he focus on economic measures, as she expressed support for the proposed P1.3-trillion economic stimulus measure
“After having imposed a long lockdown, the balance should now be tipped towards economic concerns... Suppose we focus on economic aspect and something happens in the health sector, we’re confident (Duterte) will take the necessary remedial measures,” Arroyo, an economist, explained.
The House passed the economic stimulus bill or the Accelerated Recovery and Investments Stimulus for the Economy (ARISE) Act under House Bill 6815 before it adjourned earlier this month. But the administration’s economic team said the measure might not be viable due to lack of available funds.
In resolving this impasse, Arroyo said the executive and the legislative should discuss the matter and possibly meet halfway.
“Should there be a difference in opinion on fiscal matters between Congress and the economic team, procedurally Congress’ position should be the starting base. The economic team can propose how to narrow any fiscal gap that emerges,” she suggested.
The ARISE bill seeks to provide P155 billion this year to a wage subsidy program for workers of private companies affected by the two-month enhanced community quarantine as well as cash for work and student loan programs.
More borrowing backed
To address the health crisis and shore up the economy at the same time, the government should resort to more borrowing, according to Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.
“I support (the plan to borrow money) so that the government could provide stimulus assistance to our kababayans and shore up the country’s economy,” Drilon said in a radio interview.
“Our present financial standing is not sufficient for us to cope with the pandemic situation. The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over,” Drilon said.
“We need to hire thousands of contact tracers, incentivize doctors and nurses so they won’t leave their posts, purchase PPEs to protect our healthcare workforce, provide stimulus funds to businesses and bring back home thousands of OFWs,” he added.
For Vice President Leni Robredo, the government had been complacent at the start and did not act fast enough to contain the spread of COVID-19.
“If you remember, our first cases started end of January and we were still not determined at that time on what steps to take,” she said in an interview with ANC.
“When finally we decided to cancel flights, we were not very strict on its implementation,” she added, noting reports that flights from China continued to arrive on the first few days of the implementation of the policy.
Robredo also noted the lack of urgency when the country enforced the enhanced community quarantine, citing the lack of protective equipment for frontliners.
“We should have learned the lessons of Wuhan already,” she said, referring to the epicenter of the pandemic, adding in Filipino: “But it seems that we were very slow in the beginning.”
The militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), meanwhile, has branded Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act as a failed emergency measure in addressing the pandemic.
“As an emergency measure, with a staggering budget of P275 billion, the law has not truly addressed the plight of the people under the COVID-19 health crisis,” Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes said in a press statement.
The Kilusang Mayo Uno, for its part, also said the “militaristic approach” to implementing quarantine has been a failure.
“We are seeing record-high numbers in the past few days. The loss of incomes and livelihoods and the sacrifices of both the people staying home and the health workers in the frontlines were all for nothing because of the failed response of the Duterte government,” said KMU chair Elmer Labog. Janvic Mateo, Elizabeth Marcelo, Pia Lee-Brago, Edu Punay