The House of Representatives will deliberate on the proposed Bayanihan 3 law by next week. Despite the chamber being on break, the Committees on Appropriations and Economic Affairs will meet and deliberate on the bill.

The proposed Bayanihan 3 (House Bill 8628) or Bayanihan to Arise as One Act is an aid and stimulus bill which seeks to provide cash aid or ayuda towards low-income families and economic incentive to businesses affected by the pandemic. There are currently 6 versions of the bill, all of which are being consolidated at the House of Representatives.

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, principal author of the proposed bill, revealed that the administration is looking for funds to accommodate the P420 billion budget of this bill.

The passing of the bill has been delayed due to the early apprehensions of the government’s economic managers as to its source of funding. Speaker Velasco said that the economic managers are currently studying where to get the money for the initiative.

“I am thankful to Secretary (Carlos) Dominguez and Secretary (Wendel) Avisado for recognizing the importance of Bayanihan 3 in addressing the financial gaps to better manage the government’s response to the pandemic. Our economic managers see Bayanihan 3 as a lifeline for many Filipinos facing economic hardship during this crisis,” the Speaker mentioned at the virtual meeting last Monday.

The provisions of the Bayanihan 3 bill states that each household member will receive P1,000 regardless of economic status, P1,000 for each student and teacher and P8,000 for every displaced worker.

A total of 224 members in the house belonging to the supermajority, minority and independent blocks have signed as principal authors or co-authors of the measure.

Currently at the Senate, two similar bills have been filed, proposing large-scale aid distribution: The P485-billion Bayanihan 3 bill by Senator Ralph Recto, and the P335-billion stimulus package bill by Senator Manny Pacquiao.

Photo Source: pna.gov.ph