‘Prioritize Bayanihan 2 once sessions resume’

A BULACAN lawmaker has called on her colleagues at the House of Representatives to set aside political differences and prioritize the passage of the Bayanihan 2 bill on the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) once sessions resume.

“We have done it before and I hope we will do it again. We should strive to set aside our political differences for the good of our countrymen who are now suffering because of this pandemic. There should be no delay once session resumes on July 27, 2020,” San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan Rep. Florida Robes said.

She said lawmakers should unite once again to pass the Bayanihan

to Recover As One Act or Bayanihan 2 under substitute House Bill (HB) 6953.

The House Committee of the Whole approved HB 6953 last June 4 and went through the period of debate and sponsorship.

Once session resumes, the bill is expected to go into a period of amendments before it is submitted for approval on second reading.

Robes is one of the principal authors of HB 6853 having filed Resolution 910, which called for the extension of the effectivity of Republic Act 11469 of the “Bayanihan to Heal As One Act” until such time that a cure or a vaccine for Covid-19 has been developed.

In her resolution, she points out that despite the easing of restrictions, the World Health Organization (WHO), scientists and health experts have been one in giving the warning that Covid-19 will remain a threat until a cure or a vaccine for the virus has been developed and that nations are advised not to let their guard down.

She took note of events in South Korea, Singapore, China and Japan, among others, in which there were sudden spikes in Covid-19 cases after a flattening of the curve indicating a second or third wave of infections.

These were clear pieces of evidence that there is no returning to normalcy without a definite cure or a vaccine for Covid-19, Robes said.

She added that said there was a need for continuous vigilance and implementation of preventive, testing and treatment mechanisms in order to manage the virus as well as continuous execution of economic stimulus response projects to respond to the new normal.

“In the light of the new bill, there is indeed a need to give President Rodrigo Duterte enough authority to implement the extraordinary but necessary measures in order to protect and help our people in these difficult times until a cure or vaccine for Covid-19 is developed,” Robes said.