Bayanihan 2 signed into law

(UPDATED) Malacañang has confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law the Bayanihan 2 or the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act on Friday, September 11, 2020.

"We consider the Bayanihan II crucial in our efforts to gradually re-open the economy, support businesses and revitalize growth as we make our country resilient to Covid-19 by strengthening our health sector, particularly our healthcare capacity and pandemic response," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

The salient features of Republic Act 11494 are:

• P13.5 billion for the DOH, including the hiring of emergency human resources for health;
• Special risk allowances for public and private healthcare workers, which is on top of hazard pay;
• Tax-exempt compensation to public and private healthcare workers who have contracted Covid-19: P15,000 for mild or moderate cases; P100,000 for severe or critical; and P1 million in case of death retroactive to February 1, 2020;
• P3 billion for the procurement of face masks, PPEs, shoe covers, and face shields;
• P4.5 billion for the construction of temporary medical isolation and quarantine facilities, field hospitals, dormitories, and for the expansion of gov't hospital capacity;
• P13 billion for the government's cash-for-work program and other support programs for impacted sectors;
• P39.472 billion as capital infusion to government banks;
• P24 billion as assistance to the agricultural sector and the Plant, Plant, Plant initiative under the Department of Agriculture (DA);
• P9.5 billion in assistance to the transportation industry; including P3 billion for PUJ drivers;
• P3 billion for the development of smart campuses across the country;
• P600 million as subsidies and allowances for students severely impacted by the pandemic;
• P300 million as subsidies and allowances to teaching and non-teaching personnel, and part-time faculty in state universities and colleges (SUCs);
• P1 billion for Tesda scholarships;
• P6 billion for DSWD's assistance to individuals in crisis situations;
• P4 billion for the DepEd's implementation of digital education;
• P180 million as allowance for national athletes and coaches;
• P820 million as repatriation fund for overseas Filipinos under the Department of Foreign Affairs;
• P4 billion for the tourism industry, and another P100 million for tourist guides training and subsidies;
• P10 million for the research fund of the Health Technology Assessment Council, which was created under the UHC Law;
• P15 million for UP Diliman's Computational Research Lab; and
• P10 billion for testing and procurement of anti-Covid medication and vaccine.

The P39.472-billion allocation for government banks is broken down as follows:

P10 billion for the DTI Small Business Corporation, broken down as: P4 billion of which will be devoted for low-interest loans to MSMEs, cooperatives, hospitals, and OFWs; and P6 billion for tourism;

P18.4725 billion for the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP);

P6 billion for the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP); and

P5 billion for the Philippine Guarantee Corporation.

The new law also includes the "three-gives" payment scheme for electric, water, telecommunications and other utility bills, according to Senator Francis Tolentino.

"We thank President Duterte for including our 'three-gives' proposal, which will unburden many Filipino consumers in the payment of their bills, especially during this time," Tolentino said in a separate statement.

The law directs "all institutions providing electric, water, telecommunications, and other similar utilities to implement a minimum of 30-day grace period for the payment of utilities falling due within the period of ECQ or MECQ without incurring interests, penalties, and other charges."

After the grace period, the bills may be paid in three monthly installments without interests, penalties, and other charges.

The new law also provides a "minimum of 30-day grace period on residential rents and commercial rents of lessees not permitted to work, and MSMEs ordered to temporarily cease operations, falling due within the period of the CQ, without incurring interests, penalties, fees, and other charges."

These payables may be paid in monthly installments until December 31, 2020 without any interests, penalties and other charges.

The 30-day grace period will start from the date of the lifting of the enhanced community quarantine or modified enhanced community quarantine. (SunStar Philippines from PR)