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.