By Hannah Torregoza Senate minority bloc on Sunday called for a special session for the passage of a supplemental budget to aid government’s efforts to combat the COVID-19 disease. Senate of the Philippines (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) The minority bloc at the Upper Chamber, led by Sen. Franklin Drilon, said the budget will help augment the government’s resources as it starts enforcing a community quarantine in Metro Manila. “In view of the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, we in the Minority call for a special session of Congress to pass a supplemental budget to address the pandemic and help affected Filipino households, workers, and businesses,” they said in a statement. Senators belonging to the minority group include Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros and Leila de Lima. According to the senators, the supplemental budget should cover the procurement of additional test kits for massive testing. The proposed supplemental budget would also be used to procure relief goods for the most vulnerable; additional health personnel, equipment (protective gear and hospital beds), and vitamins and medicine. The said funds would also help provide cash support or basic income grant for the daily wage earners and the unemployed who don’t have sick and vacation leaves; and subsidy or easy loans to help businesses, “especially the micro and small ones, keep afloat during this period.” Last March 10, the House Appropriations Committee approved a P1.6-billion supplemental budget to assist the Department of Health (DOH) to cover the government’s needs to address the outbreak. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, in an interview with reporters last week, said it is possible for Congress to have a special session for the supplemental budget. “We are more than willing to come back to work because that is our duty as representatives of the people,” Zubiri said. Congress went on a Holy Week recess starting March 12 and will resume regular sessions on May 4.