Congress urged to extend session
CAGAYAN de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez called on the House of Representatives and the Senate to extend the first regular session until Friday next week to pass measures that seek to address the impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Rodriguez filed House Concurrent Resolution 8, seeking to amend the legislative calendar that is set to adjourn sine die on Friday, June 5. Congress is mandated to have a mandatory break 30 days before the opening of the next regular session, which is on the fourth Monday of July or on July 27, when President Rodrigo Duterte is set to deliver his State of the Nation Address.
Among the important measures that need to be passed are the proposed P1.3-trillion Accelerated Recovery and Intervention Stimulus for the Economy (Arise) Act to aid the business sector; Covid-19-Related Anti-Discrimination Act; the Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST) Act; the P1.5trillion Covid-19 Unemployment Reduction Economic Stimulus (Cures) Act; and Better Normal for the Workplace, Communities and Public Spaces Act.
“There are other measures still pending, including various bills mandating the establishment of pop-up bicycle lanes for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Crushing Covid-19
Act and my proposal to extend the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act by three months,” Rodriguez said.
Other lawmakers have also called on Duterte to call a special session while Congress is in recess.
Arise, FIST, and the Crushing Covid-19 bills are awaiting voting on third reading.
Arise or House Bill (HB) 6815 seeks to provide P1.3 trillion worth of economic interventions and aid businesses affected by the pandemic through wage subsidies, zero interest loans and industry-based assistance. It also allocates P20 billion for mass testing to alleviate the “fear factor” of workers and customers in the reopening of the economy.
Crushing Covid-19 Act or HB 6865 seeks to prioritize the testing of workers with co-morbidities, pregnant women, healthcare workers, food handlers, public, market vendors, sales people in groceries and supermarkets, house helpers, salon workers, media people and factory and construction workers. It also aims to make Covid-19 testing available, accessible and affordable.
Also awaiting final reading is HB 6895, which allows the President to revise the school year during a state of emergency or calamity through an amendment of the Republic Act 7797.