Solon eyes extension of Palace emergency powers

Published May 25, 2020, 12:30 PM

Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez sees the need to extend President Duterte’s emergency powers under Republic Act (RA) No. 11469, the “Bayanihan to Heal as One” law for three more months, or up to September.

In a bill he drafted for filing Tuesday, Rodriguez said the House of Representatives and the Senate passed what would become RA No.11469 last March 24 to give the President emergency powers “to respond to the crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“Such powers are good for three months. Unfortunately, two months after the effectively of the law, the end to the pandemic is not yet in sight. There are still new COVID-19 positive cases being reported every day and the country is not yet fully operating,” he said.

He said the Department of Health (DOH) reported that as of May 24, the country had 258 new cases, bringing the total to 14,035. Those who have died from the disease increased by five to 868, while the number of those who have recovered went up by 72 to 3,249.

“It is therefore clear that the pandemic will not be over by June 24, 2020. As such, we need to extend the effectivity of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and give the President additional time to address the pandemic,” Rodriguez said.

He said he would have filed the bill Monday if it were not a holiday. Congress was closed in observance of the Eid’l Fitr celebration.

“Since there is a similar proposal in the Senate, I am urging the leaders of the two chambers of Congress to consider approving the proposed extension before we go on our annual mandatory adjournment next weekend,” he said, referring to the end of the first regular session of the 18th Congress.

He added that if the legislature fails to pass the bill before Saturday next week, the President will have to call lawmakers to a special session during the recess if he wants his emergency powers under the Bayanihan law extended.

The President’s special authority under the law includes providing emergency cash assistance of P5,000 to P8,000 to at least 18 million low-income households all over the country for April and May.

Duterte was also allowed to realign the 2020 national budget to fund COVID-19 response measures and procure personal protective equipment and other supplies for frontline health workers.

The Mindnanao solon noted that the financial aid for this month amounting to P100 billion has yet to be distributed, while the DOH and its hospitals are still awaiting a large portion of procured medical supplies.

It was also under RA No.11469 that the President directed the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth to shoulder all medical expenses of public and private health workers related to exposure to COVID-19 or any work-related injury or disease during the pandemic emergency.

The Chief Executive was also given authority by Congress to take over the operation of any privately-owned hospital, medical and health facility, and other establishments should it unjustifiably refuse to follow Palace directives such as housing health workers, converting into quarantine areas, and serving as medical relief and aid distribution locations.

SOURCE: https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/05/25/solon-eyes-extension-of-palace-emergency-powers/