By Hannah Torregoza Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday thumbed down proposals seeking additional powers for President Duterte saying existing laws are already sufficient to address the government’s need to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus disease or COVID-19.

“I fully support the allocation of a supplemental budget to boost the government’s efforts to immediately contain the novel coronavirus outbreak,” Hontiveros said. “However, the proposed grant of additional powers to the Executive Branch are clearly unnecessary to address the most pressing needs of health workers, COVID-19 patients, and poor Filipinos alike in this critical period,” Hontiveros added. Hontiveros issued the statement as members of the Senate and House of Representatives convene today for a Special Session supposedly to discuss a measure that would grant Duterte the authority to realign funds from the 2020 national budget and unused funds in the 2019 appropriation needed to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 disease. Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the measure seeks a projected budget of P200-billion which would be used to help the 16.5 million Filipinos nationwide and workers who are affected by the COVID-19. Sotto also denied reports of a draft bill  that states Malacanang is seeking emergency powers to address the COVID-19 situation. According to Hontiveros, the country’s laws are sufficient to address the problem and must be used extensively during this critical period. “Our existing laws already grant government the powers and other necessary tools needed to mount an effective response against COVID-19,” she said. “Notably, the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act or Republic Act No. 11332, of which I am an author, provides comprehensive mechanisms during epidemics or other health emergencies,” she pointed out. She said the Government Procurement Reform Act or RA 9184, at present authorizes government agencies to engage in speedier, alternative methods of procurement of resources – such as negotiated procurement – during calamities. In fact, the Government Procurement Policy Board issued Resolution 03-2020 to approve the efficient and expedient procurement procedures during this state of public health emergency, the senator stressed. “What needs to be done is the immediate allocation of a supplemental budget that will allow economic safety nets for the most vulnerable affected by COVID-19 and all other programs the government must undertake to expand the capacity of our healthcare system and complement local government initiatives,” she said. “I also join the public’s call for more and speedier mass testing, with priority to those who are at risk such as our health workers, front liners and the elderly, and to detect and isolate more asymptomatic cases. Temporary health facilities should also be put up as isolation, treatment and rehabilitation centers as we expect a growing number of infected persons,” the senator reiterated. Hontiveros also reiterated her call for the quick distribution of relief packages that include cash assistance and food subsidies for poor Filipino families whose lives have been severely affected by the enhanced community quarantine. “The government must also ensure ample funding to complement our local government units’ efforts in providing their constituents’ basic necessities,” added the senator. “Maraming doktor at health workers na ang nagkakasakit at may ilan na ring nababalitang namatay bilang mga frontliners. Marami na ring pamilya ang nagugutom dahil nawalan ng pinagkakakitaan (We have so many doctors and health workers who are also falling ill and some of them as front liners have died in the battle. There are also many families now going hungry due to the absence of livelihood). These are urgent problems which cannot be solved by more centralization and more executive powers,” she stressed. “The people need real solutions that present an overall health strategy to contain COVID-19 and protect the public’s well-being: more funds to expand our health capacity, more economic safety nets, more testing and care for COVID-19 patients,” Hontiveros emphasized.