ADDITIONAL budget is still needed to address the effects of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Baguio City Congressman Marquez Go said the national government is set to realign budgets under Republic Act 11469 or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act” to be used to address the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The Republic Act 11469 gives the President the authority to utilize and realign budgets of 2019-2020 for this pandemic. The President has the authority to one, realign items in the budget under the circular released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) instructing the President to get 35 percent of the budget which have not yet been obligated and will be used for the pandemic, including other budgets under the 2020 General Appropriations Act scheduled for later release will not be released and will be used for Covid-19 related activities,” Go said.
The “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act” was enacted in March 2020 granting President Rodrigo Duterte additional authority to combat the Covid–19 pandemic in the Philippines.
“The President can borrow from other countries or other financial institutions to address our needs for this pandemic. When we will be discussing the 2021 budget, I think this will be one thing that we will consider, there are two bills filed in the Congress at the moment where I was asked to co-author with one bill proposed by Congressman Joey Salceda and Congresswoman Stella Quimbo pertaining to the stimulus or economic package which focuses on the return of our economy aside from acting in the pandemic, which seeks to help businesses and companies affected by Covid-19,” the lawmaker stated.
Go added House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and other representatives filed Republic Act (RA) 6623 which establishes the new normal or what would be the country’ s situation after the pandemic and the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
RA 6629 seeks to establish regulations for the new normal way of life in workplaces and public areas as the country continues to battle Covid-19.
House Bill (HB) No. 6623 was also filed to prepare and educate Filipinos for life after the lifting of the restrictions imposed by the national government and local government units (LGUs) to contain the spread of Covid-19 through new norms of social or physical distancing and safety measures in government and private offices, schools, commercial establishments and other public spaces.