A House of Representatives panel approved yesterday the P405.6-billion stimulus package under the Bayanihan to Arise As One Act, or the Bayanihan 3, to boost the country’s economic recovery from the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
The House Ways and Means Committee approved the substitute bill to the third Bayanihan measure, that would contain direct emergency and social amelioration to Filipinos, livelihood interventions, as well as food security and health interventions.
The bill seeks to provide funding of P108 billion for the implementation of a cash subsidy program of P1,000 for every Filipino, with another P108 billion in standby funds.
Around P12 billion shall be appropriated for Phase 1 of assistance for households in crisis situations under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Some P12 billion shall be appropriated for Phase 2, and P6 billion for Phase 3 of the AICS program.
To assist micro, small, and medium enterprises, the Small Business Wage Subsidy program shall be continued and expanded with direct funding of P8 billion, and standby funds worth P8 billion for Phase 2 and P4 billion for Phase 3.
To provide temporary employment to displaced workers, around P10 billion shall be appropriated for the implementation of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers, Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program, and Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong program, while P10 billion shall be appropriated as standby funds for Phase 2, and P5 billion for Phase 3.
Assistance to the agri-fishery sector includes P30 billion worth of standby funds to finance programs and interventions toward food security and farmer income security and welfare.
The bill allocates P3 billion for medical assistance for indigent patients, and standby funds worth P3 billion each for phases 2 and 3.
A total of P54.6 billion shall be allocated to the Pension and Gratuity Fund for retired military and police personnel, while the amount of P5.6 billion shall be appropriated to assist the Department of Education in the implementation of its digital education, information technology, and digital infrastructure and alternative learning modalities as part of the pandemic response and transition to a new normal.
Standby funds worth P5 billion each shall be allocated for the implementation of the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act and Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act, both of which are aimed at providing national nutrition.*PNA
