Ignoring the Senate and executive department's lack of interest, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the proposed P401-billion Bayanihan to Arise as One Act or Bayanihan 3 on a unanimous voting on Tuesday, June 1.
With 238 House members present voting in the affirmative and zero in the negative House Bill 9411 will now be sent to the Senate for its action.
Questioning constitutionality of the measure, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman registered the lone abstention.
Lagman is the only solon present in the plenary who is not an author of the bill that proposes to distribute an initial P2,000 to all 108 million Filipinos and an additional P10,000 to those who were displaced and suffered financial distress due to the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“The approval of Bayanihan 3 is historical moment in the legislative process in this chamber as this measure has been co-authored by almost all of its members,” said Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, who filed one of the main bills consolidated with HB 9411.
He noted that House members “set aside politics and crossed party lines to united for a common goal” of extending financial assistance to Filipinos who have been confronted by financial difficulties.
“The centerpiece of this proposed legislation is the P216-billion funding for two rounds of cash aid worth P2,000 to be given to each of the 108 million Filipinos regardless of age and economic status,” said Velasco.
He explained that HB 9411 bill also contains allocations for wage subsidies, emergency assistance to quarantine-affected households, assistance to displaced workers, national nutrition, financial assistance to agri-fishery sector and cooperatives, medical assistance to indigents, local government support, free COVID-testing for seafarers and other overseas Filipino workers, pension and gratuity fund for retired military and uniformed personnel, and support to basic and higher education.
Defending his vote of abstention, Lagman noted that government economic managers have not endorsed the bill. He added that neither has the National Treasurer issued a certification of fund availability.
“It suffers a constitutional infirmity because it fails to comply with Sec. 25 (4) of Art. VI of the Constitution which provides that “A special appropriations bill... shall be supported by funds actually available as certified by the National Treasurer, or to be raised by a corresponding revenue proposal therein,” Lagman explained.
Lagman also lamented that there are “nebulous” provisions of the bill that were not clarified because of the limited time given to congressmen to interpellate the sponsors.
Despite the strong support it received in the Lower House, the Bayanihan 3 bill has not been given an assurance of being enacted into law.
Senate leaders, including Senate President Vicente Sotto III, appeared cold to measure when he aired doubts that senators will have the time to pass it.
On the other hand, appeals for Presidente Duterte issuance of a certification declaring HB 9411 an urgent administration have fallen on deaf ears.