VOTING 238-0 with one abstention on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, the House of Representatives approved on final reading the proposed Bayanihan 3 Act.
House Bill 9411, or the proposed Bayanihan to Arise As One Act, sets aside P401 billion for additional interventions to accelerate the recovery of the economy from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Its centerpiece is the P216-billion funding for two rounds of cash aid worth P2,000 to be given to each of the 108 million Filipinos regardless of age and economic status.
House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, one of the authors, said the bill also contains allocations for wage subsidies, emergency assistance to quarantine-affected households, assistance to displaced workers, national nutrition, financial assistance to agri-fishery sector and cooperatives, medical assistance to indigents, local government support, free Covid testing for seafarers and other overseas Filipino workers, pension and gratuity fund for retired military and uniformed personnel, and support to basic and higher education.
Velasco said members of the House set aside politics and crossed party lines to approve the measure.
“The approval of Bayanihan 3 is historical moment in the legislative process in this chamber as this measure has been co-authored by almost all of its members,” he said in a statement.
The measure is authored by almost all 300 members of the House.
“This P401-billion lifeline measure outlines additional interventions to ensure that our kababayans are provided direct emergency and social amelioration, have sustainable sources of income, and have stable access to affordable food and quality health services despite the impact of the Covid-19 crisis,” Velasco said.
The House also approved HB 9061, or the proposed Physician's Act, with a vote of 236-6 and zero abstentions.
HB 9072, or the proposed Free Annual Medical Check-up Act, was likewise approved with 245 affirmative votes and zero negative votes.
These measures, along with the Resolution of Both Houses No. 2 on the proposed constitutional amendment, were among the 18 bills that the House approved on Tuesday evening, a day before its sine die adjournment. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)